83 FR 36881 - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 147 (July 31, 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 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36881-36882]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16311]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG377


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, August 20 through Thursday, 
August 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Omni Corpus Christi hotel 
located at 900 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX 78401; 
telephone: (361) 887-1600.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 4107 W. 
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

Monday, August 20, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.

    The Coral Committee will receive an update on the Flower Garden 
Banks National Marine Sanctuary Expansion; discuss Final Action: 
Abbreviated Framework Action--Clarification of Fishing in Habitat Area 
Particular Concerns (HAPCs); and, receive an update on the Coral Reef 
Conservation Program Grant. The Sustainable Fisheries Committee will 
review a Draft Abbreviated Framework Action: Conversion of Historical 
Captain Endorsements to Federal For-Hire Permits; and, review of Senate 
Bill S. 3138--A Bill to Establish a Regulatory System for Marine 
Aquaculture in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
    After lunch, the Mackerel Committee will convene to discuss the 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Landings Update; receive an update on 
Cobia catch per unit effort (CPUE) Indices and Scientific and Statistic 
Committee (SSC) recommendations; and, review Options: CMP Framework 
Amendment 7--Modifications to Gulf Cobia Size and Possession Limits. 
The Gulf SEDAR Committee will receive an overview of the revised SEDAR 
process; and review and finalize the 2020 and 2021 Gulf SEDAR Schedule. 
The Shrimp Committee will receive an update on Council request 
regarding shrimp effort threshold reduction in the area monitored for 
juvenile red snapper bycatch and SSC recommendations. The Spiny Lobster 
Committee will review and discuss the Spiny Lobster Landings and review 
Final Action: Spiny Lobster Amendment 13--Modifications to the Spiny 
Lobster Gear Requirements and Cooperative Management Procedures.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The Reef Fish Management Committee will convene and review the Reef 
Fish Landings; review Final Action: Framework Action to Modify Red 
Snapper Acceptable Catch Limits (ACL) and Acceptable Catch Targets 
(ACT) and Gulf Hogfish ACLs. The committee will also review Draft 
Amendment 36B--Modifications to Commercial Individual Fishing Quota 
(IFQ) Programs and Final Action: Modification to the Recreational Red 
Snapper ACT Buffers. After lunch, the committee will discuss the Gulf 
of Mexico Allocation Review Triggers; compare the Council's Allocation 
Policy with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Allocation Review 
Policy; review Scoping Document: Reallocation of the Red Snapper ACL 
and the revised Draft Amendment 50: State Management Program for 
Recreational Red Snapper and Individual State Amendments.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

    The Reef Fish Committee will receive a presentation on the Great 
Red Snapper Count; and review the Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC) Summary Report. The Data Committee will review the Gulf of Mexico 
2017 Headboat Summary Report; and receive an update on Southeast For-
Hire Electronic Reporting Programs (SEFHIER) Implementation Plan.
    Mid-morning (approximately 10:45 a.m.), the Full Council will 
convene with a Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions. The 
Council will hold the induction of new Council Members, followed by the 
Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes. The Council will receive 
presentations on Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Amendment 11 regarding 
Shortfin Mako Sharks; and from Texas Law Enforcement. The Council will 
receive open public testimony from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. on the 
following items: Final Action: Abbreviated Framework Action--
Clarification of Fishing in HAPCs; Final Action: Framework Action to 
Modify Red Snapper ACLs and ACTs, and Gulf Hogfish ACLs; Final Action: 
Modification to the Recreational Red Snapper Annual Catch Target 
Buffers; Final Action: Spiny Lobster Amendment 13--Modifications to the 
Spiny Lobster Gear Requirements and Cooperative Management Procedures; 
and, on any other 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.

[[Page 36882]]

Thursday, August 23, 2018; 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

    The Council will receive reports from the following committees: 
Coral, Mackerel, Spiny Lobster, Sustainable Fisheries, Gulf SEDAR, Data 
Collection, Shrimp, and Reef Fish Management Committees. After lunch, 
the Council will receive updates from the following supporting 
agencies: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE), Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; U.S. Coast 
Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and, the Department of State.
    The Council will discuss any Other Business items. Lastly, the 
Council will hold an election for Chair and Vice-Chair.
--Meeting Adjourns
    The meeting will be broadcast via webinar. You may register for the 
webinar by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on the Council 
meeting on the calendar. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3383291116212545537-. The timing and order in which agenda items are 
addressed may change as required to effectively address the issue, and 
the latest version along with other meeting materials will be posted on 
www.gulfcouncil.org as they become available.
    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 this meeting. 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

    This meeting is 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: July 26, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16311 Filed 7-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P