The Gulf Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3- day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of America fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of hybrid meeting open to the public offering both in-person and virtual options for participation.
SUMMARY:
The Gulf Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3-day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of America fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
DATES:
The meeting will convene Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Daily schedule: Monday and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EDT and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES:
The meeting will take place at the Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Hotel, located 2225 N Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607. If you prefer to “listen in,” you may access the log-on information by visiting our website at
www.gulfcouncil.org.
Council address:
Gulf Fishery Management Council, 4107 W Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.
The meeting will begin with the
Shrimp
Committee receiving a presentation on updates from the
Shrimp
Bycatch Methodology for
Finfish
Species Working Group, discuss work plan and membership for Working Group to address interactions and bycatch of Protected Resources in
Shrimp
Trawls and review draft options for Status Determination Criteria for the
Penaeid Shrimp.
The Habitat Protection and Restoration Committee will review the Essential Fish Habitat Generic Amendment Public Hearing Draft followed by Data Collection Committee review of public hearing draft Generic Amendment: Modifications to Gulf For-hire Data Collection Program and receive a presentation Exploring the feasibility of using a deep-water
Grouper
permit to better identify the universe of recreational anglers targeting these species.
At the end of the day, FULL COUNCIL will convene in a CLOSED SESSION to finalize selection of the Coastal Migratory
Pelagics
and
Red Drum
Advisory Panel Members.
Tuesday, June 2, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EDT
The meeting will begin with a Litigation update followed by the
Reef Fish
Committee reviewing FINAL ACTION item
Reef Fish
Amendment 63: Modifications to Gulf
Red Grouper
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and Ad Hoc
Red Snapper/Grouper-Tilefish
IFQ Advisory Panel (AP) recommendations. Next the Committee will review draft options for
Reef Fish
Amendment 55/
Snapper Grouper
Amendment 44:
Mutton Snapper
and
Yellowtail Snapper
Management Measures Draft Options—Modifications to
Red Snapper
Private Recreational Post-Season Accountability Measures. After lunch break the Committee will review
Reef Fish
Amendment 59A: Permit Requirements in IFQ Programs and Ad Hoc
Red Snapper/Grouper-Tilefish
IFQ AP Recommendations and Draft Amendment 65—Regional Management of Recreational
Greater Amberjack.
The Committee will receive recommendations from the May 2026 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Meeting and discuss Exempted Fishing Permits for
Greater Amberjack
and
Gag Grouper.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., EDT
The Council will reconvene at 8:30 a.m., EDT with a Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes and presentation of the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer/Team of the Year Award. The Council will hold public testimony beginning at 8:45 a.m.-12 p.m. for public comment on FINAL ACTION—
Reef Fish
Amendment 63: Modifications to Gulf
Red Grouper
IFQ Program; Exempted Fishing Permits for
Greater Amberjack
and
Gag Grouper;
and any Open Testimony on other Fishery Issues or Concerns.
The Council will receive Committee Reports from the following committees:
Shrimp,
Habitat Protection & Restoration, Data Collection, Closed Session and
Reef Fish
Committees.
The Council will receive updates from Supporting Agencies: South Atlantic Council Liaison, Florida Law Enforcement Efforts, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Report and Presentation, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of State.
Lastly, the Council will receive an update on documents transmitted for Rule Making, hold a discussion on Council Planning and Primary Activities and any Other Business items.
—Meeting Adjourns
The meeting will be a hybrid meeting; both in-person and virtual participation available. You may register for the webinar to listen-in only by visiting
www.gulfcouncil.org
and click on the Council meeting on the calendar.
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 the website as they become available.
Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
( printed page 25562)
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meeting. Actions 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 aid or accommodations should be directed to Kathy Pereira, (813) 348-1630, at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.