Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Announces Public Hearings for a Generic Amendment to Address Federal Seafood Dealer Permits

Public Hearing Notice July 18, 2012    Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Announces Public Hearings for a Generic Amendment to Address Federal Seafood Dealer Permits The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled public hearings around the Gulf coast to discuss a proposed generic amendment that considers changes to the current requirements for seafood dealer permits and potential changes to frequency and method of reporting. The intent of the proposed changes is to ensure landings of managed fish stocks are recorded accurately and in a timely manner so annual catch limits are not exceeded.  NOAA Fisheries Service issues Federal dealer permits on an annual basis to those individuals or organizations that wish to become a seafood dealer. A seafood dealer is the person who first receives fish by way of purchase, barter, or trade.  The Gulf Council is considering changes to the current permit and reporting requirements for those individuals or organizations that purchase species managed by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.  The meetings schedule is as follows:   Monday, August 6, 2012 Hilton Tampa Airport 2225 N. Lois Avenue Tampa, Florida 33607 (813) 877-6688 Monday, August 6, 2012 Lady Anderson/Captain Anderson Marina 5550 N. Lagoon Drive Panama City Beach, FL  32408 (850) 234-3435 Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Courtyard Marriott 3955 N. Expressway 77/83 Brownsville, Texas 78520 (956) 350-4600 Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Courtyard Marriott 1000 W. I-65 Service Road South Mobile, Alabama 36609 (251) 344-5200 Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Harvey Government Center 1200 Truman Avenue Key West, Florida 33040 (305) 295-5000 Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Courtyard Marriott D'Iberville 11471 Cinema Drive D'Iberville, Mississippi 39540 (228) 392-1200 Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Omni Corpus Christi 900 N. Shoreline Boulevard Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 (361) 887-1600 Thursday, August 9, 2012 Hilton Galveston 5400 Seawall Boulevard Galveston Island, Texas 77551 (409) 744-5000 Thursday, August 9, 2012 Courtyard Marriott 142 Library Drive Houma, Louisiana 70360 (985) 223-8996 All meetings will begin at 6pm and conclude at the end of public testimony, but no later than 9pm.  A virtual public hearing is also available for viewing by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLwR4yr8GI. Comments can be submitted online by visiting the Council web site at  http://gulfcouncil.org/council_meetings/comment_forms/Dealer%20Reporting.php. Copies of the public hearing materials can be obtained by calling 813-348-1630. Materials will also be posted on the Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org. These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the Council office at least five working days prior to the meeting. About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.        The Gulf Council has an APP for that - Download it for free!           iPhone         Droid Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Charlene Ponce Public Information Officer 888-833-1844 ext. 229

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