83 FR 1340 - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 8 (January 11, 2018)

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a four-day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 8 (Thursday, January 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1340-1341]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00375]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF932


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a four-day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of 
Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, January 29 through Thursday, 
February 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will take place at the Hyatt 
Centric French Quarter hotel, located at 800 Iberville Street, New 
Orleans, LA 70112; telephone: (504) 586-0800.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Gregory, Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Agenda

Monday, January 29, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The meeting will begin in FULL COUNCIL SESSION to review and 
discuss the appointments for the 2018 Committee Roster. The Spiny 
Lobster Management Committee will review the

[[Page 1341]]

2016/2017 Spiny Lobster Landings and draft options paper for Joint 
Spiny Lobster Amendment 13. The Administrative/Budget Committee will 
meet to review the Ad Hoc Advisory Panels and discuss the Scientific 
and Statistical Committees' (SSC) Organization. After lunch, the 
Sustainable Fisheries Management Committee will convene to review the 
Mackerel Landings and Bag Limit Analysis; options paper for Carryover 
of Unharvested Quota; and the public hearing draft for Amendment 49--
Modifications to the Sea Turtle Release Gear and Framework Procedure 
for the Reef Fish Fishery. The Committee will also review a draft 
policy for descending devices and venting tools; the Ecosystem Approach 
to Fisheries Management (EAFM) by Gulf Council and other regional 
approaches; and a presentation on Reef Fish Charter For-Hire Permit 
Transfers and Potential Management Actions. The Committee will receive 
the Environmental Assessment and Exempted Fishery Permits for Lionfish 
Trap Testing in the Gulf and South Atlantic, and hold a discussion on 
Dead Zone regarding RESTORE Act Activities. Approximately 4:30 p.m., 
the Council will reconvene in a CLOSED SESSION of the Full Council to 
select members to the Ad Hoc Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish IFQ 
Advisory Panel and discuss hiring of the new Executive Director.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The Reef Fish Management Committee will convene to review and 
discuss Reef Fish Landings and State Management of Recreational Red 
Snapper. After lunch, the Committee will receive an update on the 
implementation of the Generic For-Hire Reporting Amendment; and discuss 
the analysis of Red Grouper Indices of Abundance. The Committee will 
review Amendment 41--Allocation-based Management for Federally 
Permitted Charter Vessels and Amendment 42--Reef Fish Management of 
Headboat Survey Vessels. The Committee will receive a response from 
NMFS regarding referendum requirements for auctions and receive a 
report from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The 
Committee will also receive a summary from the Ad Hoc Private Angler 
Red Snapper Advisory Panel and a presentation on Modifications to the 
Greater Amberjack Commercial Fishing Year, and Trip Limits and 
Recreational Vessel Limits and Split Quotas.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

    The Full Council will convene in the morning with a Call to Order, 
Announcements, and Introductions; Adoption of Agenda and Approval of 
Minutes; receive a presentation from the Louisiana Law Enforcement and 
an overview presentation of the Aquaculture Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). At mid-morning the Council will review Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFPs) Applications. After lunch, the Council will continue reviewing 
and discussing EFPs as well as receive a summary of any public comments 
on the EFPs. The Council will receive open public testimony from 3 p.m. 
until 6 p.m. on Fishery Issues or Concerns. Anyone wishing to speak 
during public comment should sign in at the registration station 
located at the entrance to the meeting room.

Thursday, February 1, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

    Full Council will receive committee reports from Reef Fish, Spiny 
Lobster, Administrative/Budget and Sustainable Fisheries Management 
Committees, and, a report on the members selected to serve on the Ad 
Hoc Red Snapper and Grouper -Tilefish IFQ Advisory Panel; and, vote on 
any Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications. The Council will 
receive updates from the following supporting agencies: South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council; Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; 
U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and, the Department 
of State.
    Lastly, the Council will discuss any Other Business items.

Meeting Adjourns

    The timing and order in which agenda items are addressed may change 
as required to effectively address the issue. The latest version will 
be posted on the Council's file server, which can be accessed by going 
to the Council's website at http://www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on 
FTP Server under Quick Links. For meeting materials, go to the Gulf 
Council website or Gulf Council file server and select the ``Briefing 
Books/Briefing Book 2018-01'' folder. The username and password are 
both ``gulfguest''. The meetings will be webcast over the internet. A 
link to the webcast is available here, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9086970310199522563.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal action during these meetings. Council action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice 
and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require 
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 8, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00375 Filed 1-10-18; 8:45 am]
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