SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, October 27, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

The meeting will begin in Full Council with a review and adoption of the proposed Council Committee ( printed page 64890) assignments for October 2026 through August 2027, as well as the current Council Committee assignments. NMFS will provide a brief overview of the Executive Order: Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation.

The Reef Fish Committee will then receive updates on Reef Fish Landings and review and discuss final action items for Reef Fish Amendment 55/ Snapper Grouper Amendment 44: Mutton Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper Management Measures, modifications to Red Snapper Private Recreational Post-Season Accountability Measures, and draft options for management flexibility for the Federal For-hire component of the Red Snapper fishery.

Following lunch, the Reef Fish Committee will review the September 2026 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting summary and recommendations; consider Draft for Reef Fish Amendment 59A: Permit Requirements in Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs; receive a presentation on Greater Amberjack Count; review draft Reef Fish 65—Regional Management of Recreational Greater Amberjack; and discuss Exempted Fishing Permits, if any.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

The meeting will begin with a litigation update, followed by the Shrimp Committee's review of draft membership list for the Review Panel for the S hrimp Permit Pool, Draft Shrimp Amendment 20—Status Determination Criteria for the Penaeid Shrimp, and recommendations from the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP). The committee will discuss the 2024 Shrimp Effort in Relation to Threshold for Juvenile Red Snapper, Status Update on Working Group to Address Interactions and Bycatch of Protected Resources in Shrimp Trawl and any remaining items from the Shrimp Advisory AP meeting summary.

The Data Collection Committee will review and discuss the results of the Marine Recreational Information Program-Fishing Effort Survey Pilot Study, SSC Recommendations, and next steps. The committee will also receive an overview of the Mississippi and Alabama Creel Surveys and related SSC recommendations.

The Law Enforcement Committee will provide a summary report from the October Law Enforcement Technical Committee.

Following lunch, the Council will reconvene in Full Council for the Call to Order, announcements and introductions, adoption of the agenda, and approval of minutes. The Council will receive public testimony beginning at 1:40 p.m.-4:30 p.m., CDT for public comment on Final Action Items— Reef Fish Amendment 55/ Snapper Grouper Amendment 44: Mutton Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper Management Measures and Modifications to Red Snapper Private Recreational Post-Season Accountability Measures, Exempted Fishing Permits; and any Open Testimony on other Fishery Issues or Concerns.

The Council will then receive committee reports from the Law Enforcement and Data Collection Committees.

Thursday, October 29, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

Meeting will return to Committee Sessions starting with the Sustainable Fisheries Committee will give an overview of the Southeast Fisheries Observer Program, followed by a presentation on Regulatory Streamlining and SSC Recommendations, SSC Report from September 2026 meeting, including Spawning Habitat and Early-Life Linkages to Fisheries (SHELF) Egg Project and Social Sciences Gulf Species Questionnaire.

The Migratory Species Committee will provide presentations on Shark Depredation and updates on Highly Migratory Species documents.

Following lunch, the Council will return to Full Council and receive committee reports from Reef Fish, Shrimp, Sustainable Fisheries and Migratory Species Committees.

The Council will then receive updates from supporting agencies, including the South Atlantic Council Liaison, Texas Law Enforcement, 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.

Finally, the Council will receive an update on documents transmitted for rulemaking, discuss Council planning and primary activities, and consider any other business including an update from NMFS on Advancing Agency-Level Reforms to Restore American Seafood Competitiveness.

—Meeting Adjourns

This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format, with both in-person and virtual participation options available. Members of the public may register to listen to the meeting via webinar by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and selecting the Council meeting from the calendar.

The timing and order of agenda items are subject to change to accommodate the needs of the Council. The most current agenda and meeting materials will be posted on the Council's website as they become available.

Although non-emergency issues not included in this notice may come before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action. Formal action will be limited to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided 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 or accommodations should be directed to Kathy Pereira at (813) 348-1630 at least 15 days prior to the meeting.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

91 FR 64889