The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet January 30 - February 2, 2012, at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile, Alabama. 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.
The Mackerel Management Committee will meet Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to review scoping documents for Amendments 19 and 20. Amendment 19 considers no sale of recreationally caught fish and various permit issues, Amendment 20 considers boundary changes and transit provisions. The Shrimp Management Committee will meet at 4:00 to review data from the 2011 Texas Shrimp Closure and determine whether to continue the closure in 2012. At 4:30 the Council will hear a brief update on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).
The Reef Fish Committee will meet all day Tuesday and part of Wednesday to hear a presentation on the Red Snapper IFQ Five-Year Review Survey Results. The Committee will also review and discuss:
Final Red Snapper Regulatory Amendment - Fall Closed Season Revision & 2012 Annual Catch
Options Paper for a Regulatory Amendment for Red Snapper Weekend/Weekday Openings
Gray Triggerfish Update Assessment
Final Action on Amendment 34 - Crew Size and Income Requirement
Final Action on Amendment 35 - Greater Amberjack
Option Paper for Vermilion Snapper ACL Framework Action
Scoping Document for Amendment 36 - Red Snapper IFQ Transferability
Reef Fish Amendment 33 - LAPP Program
Reef Fish Framework Action for Red Snapper Payback Provisions for Overages
Also on Tuesday, the Council and NOAA Fisheries will hold an informal Question and Answer session on general fishery management issues.
On Wednesday, the Joint Mackerel/Reef Fish/Red Drum Management Committee will meet to discuss starting an amendment to develop biomass-based stock status definitions, followed by the Data Collection Committee and the Artificial Reef Committee.
The Spiny Lobster Management Committee will meet to take final action on Amendment 11 - which considers two actions: 1) Creating new closed areas to reduce the impacts of lobster traps on protected coral species and 2) Requiring markings for spiny lobster trap lines to allow identification of trap lines entangling protected species.
The full Council will convene Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Public comment will begin at 3:15 p.m. Testimony will be heard on the following:
Reef Fish Amendment 34 - Crew Size and Income Requirement
Reef Fish Amendment 35 - Greater Amberjack
Red Snapper Regulatory Amendment - Fall Closed Season Revision & 2012 Annual Catch Limit
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11
Exempted Fishing Permits (if any)
The Council will also hold an open public comment session immediately following public testimony, until 6:15 p.m. Comment cards must be completed before the start of public testimony. Open public comment gives members of the public an opportunity to address the Council on fishery issues that may not be on the agenda.
Beginning Thursday, the Council will deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week. The meeting is expected to conclude Thursday by 4:45 p.m.
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 subject 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(c) 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
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.
