Public comment sought on change in stone crab fishery

NOAA Fisheries Service is asking for public comment on a proposed rule to repeal the federal Fishery Management Plan for Stone Crab in the Gulf of Mexico.

Because stone crab fishing happens primarily off the coast of Florida, the federal agency plans to allow Florida to extend its state management regulations into federal waters beginning with the 2011/2012 season. 
Florida already plays a leading role in stone crab stock assessments and management and if Florida’s rules are extended to federal waters it would eliminate a federal form that is now required for stone crab fishermen.
If you would like to comment on the proposed rule changes you have until August 19^th to do so.
We have posted the various ways to make public comment on this story which is posted on the news page at oysterradio.com.

·  Electronic Submissions: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries Service will accept anonymous comments. To submit comments through the federal e-rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov, click on "submit a comment", then enter "NOAA-NMFS-2011-0140" in the keyword search and click on "search". To view posted comments during the comment period, enter "NOAA-NMFS-2011-0140" in the keyword search and click on "search". You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

·  Mail: Susan Gerhart, Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701.

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