01-16-2013, 10:10 PM
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet February 5 - 8, 2013, at the Marriott Mobile, 3101 Airport Boulevard in Mobile, Alabama. After spending Tuesday interviewing applicants for the Executive Director position, the Council Committees will convene Wednesday at 8:30 am and will meet through 10:30 am Thursday. The full Council will convene at 10:30 am Thursday and is expected to adjourn by 3:45 pm Friday. Agenda highlights are summarized below. For a copy of the detailed agenda or to review briefing book materials, please visit the Council web site at www.gulfcouncil.org or call 888-833-1844.
Committee meetings will open Wednesday with the Reef Fish Management Committee to review a scoping document for Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocations. The Committee is also slated to take final action on a Framework Action to address Vermilion Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper ACL, and the Venting Tool Requirement.
The Committee will also:
Discuss a For-hire Days-at-Sea Pilot Program
Review comments received on a scoping document for Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper<br />
Receive a summary from the Socioeconomic SSC Meeting held in January<br />
Discuss issues addressed during the January 7 - 8, 2013, Special Reef Fish Committee Meeting which include:<br />
Draft 2013 Red Snapper Framework Action<br />
Red Snapper Allocation<br />
Red Snapper IFQ 5-Year Review<br />
Red Snapper Regional Management Issues<br />
Review Exempted Fishing Permits related to reef fish (if any).
Immediately following the Committee recess Wednesday, the Council and NOAA Fisheries will hold an informal Question and Answer session on general fishery management issues.
The Data Collection Committee will meet Thursday morning at 8:30 to review a draft Framework Action to the Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery Management Plans in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions regarding electronic reporting for headboats. The Committee will also:<br />
Review a joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Headboat Reporting in the South Atlantic Amendment<br />
Discuss the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Commercial Logbook Reporting Amendment
Finally, the Shrimp Management Committee will meet to review the 2012 Cooperative Texas Closure, the Preliminary Effort Report for 2012, and the Status Report on Electronic Logbook Program, and the Ad Hoc Restoration Committee will review funds for Restoration Activities and receive a summary of RESTORE meetings.
The full Council will convene Thursday at 10:30 am. beginning with Other Business. At 1:15 pm, the Council will take public comment on the following:
Final action on a Framework Action to set the 2013 Red Snapper Quotas<br />
2013 Texas Shrimp Closure<br />
Final action on a Framework Action for Vermilion and Yellowtail Snapper ACL and the Venting Tool Requirement<br />
Exempted fishing permits (if any)
The Council will also hold an open public comment session to give members of the public an opportunity to address the Council on fishery issues that may not be on the agenda. Open public comment will be taken immediately following public testimony until 5:00 pm. Anyone wishing to speak must sign up prior to the comment period.
Beginning Friday at 8:30 am, the Council will review and deem changes to the Proposed Rule for the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico. The Council will also deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week.
Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Council and Committees for discussion, in accordance with the M-SFCMA, those issues may not be the subjects of formal action. Actions of the Council and Committees will be restricted to issues specifically identified in the agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305© of the M-SFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.
The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order to allow for such adjustments and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to, the date established in this notice. 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 days prior to the meeting.
About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council<br />
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.
Committee meetings will open Wednesday with the Reef Fish Management Committee to review a scoping document for Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocations. The Committee is also slated to take final action on a Framework Action to address Vermilion Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper ACL, and the Venting Tool Requirement.
The Committee will also:
Discuss a For-hire Days-at-Sea Pilot Program
Review comments received on a scoping document for Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper<br />
Receive a summary from the Socioeconomic SSC Meeting held in January<br />
Discuss issues addressed during the January 7 - 8, 2013, Special Reef Fish Committee Meeting which include:<br />
Draft 2013 Red Snapper Framework Action<br />
Red Snapper Allocation<br />
Red Snapper IFQ 5-Year Review<br />
Red Snapper Regional Management Issues<br />
Review Exempted Fishing Permits related to reef fish (if any).
Immediately following the Committee recess Wednesday, the Council and NOAA Fisheries will hold an informal Question and Answer session on general fishery management issues.
The Data Collection Committee will meet Thursday morning at 8:30 to review a draft Framework Action to the Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery Management Plans in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions regarding electronic reporting for headboats. The Committee will also:<br />
Review a joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Headboat Reporting in the South Atlantic Amendment<br />
Discuss the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Commercial Logbook Reporting Amendment
Finally, the Shrimp Management Committee will meet to review the 2012 Cooperative Texas Closure, the Preliminary Effort Report for 2012, and the Status Report on Electronic Logbook Program, and the Ad Hoc Restoration Committee will review funds for Restoration Activities and receive a summary of RESTORE meetings.
The full Council will convene Thursday at 10:30 am. beginning with Other Business. At 1:15 pm, the Council will take public comment on the following:
Final action on a Framework Action to set the 2013 Red Snapper Quotas<br />
2013 Texas Shrimp Closure<br />
Final action on a Framework Action for Vermilion and Yellowtail Snapper ACL and the Venting Tool Requirement<br />
Exempted fishing permits (if any)
The Council will also hold an open public comment session to give members of the public an opportunity to address the Council on fishery issues that may not be on the agenda. Open public comment will be taken immediately following public testimony until 5:00 pm. Anyone wishing to speak must sign up prior to the comment period.
Beginning Friday at 8:30 am, the Council will review and deem changes to the Proposed Rule for the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico. The Council will also deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week.
Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Council and Committees for discussion, in accordance with the M-SFCMA, those issues may not be the subjects of formal action. Actions of the Council and Committees will be restricted to issues specifically identified in the agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305© of the M-SFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.
The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order to allow for such adjustments and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to, the date established in this notice. 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 days prior to the meeting.
About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council<br />
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.