Gulf Council to Hold Scoping Workshops for Reef Fish Amendment 36 Red Snapper IFQ Program Modifications

For Immediate Release February 23, 2015   Gulf Council to Hold Scoping Workshops for Reef Fish Amendment 36  Red Snapper IFQ Program Modifications    The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a series of scoping workshops to discuss and take public comment on a proposed amendment to make modifications to the Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program.  The Council is looking at a broad range of potential modifications to the Red Snapper IFQ program, including changes to the program's eligibility requirements; redistribution of shares held in inactive accounts to address regulatory discards; consideration of a full retention commercial fishery for red snapper; exploring share, allocation, and vessel caps on quota; requirements for the use of shares and/or allocation; withholding full distribution of shares in the event of an anticipated mid-year quota change; and increasing enforcement of all commercial reef fish landings.  Although this action focuses on red snapper specifically, the implication of Red Snapper IFQ program changes on the Grouper-Tilefish IFQ program, and other potential issues within the Grouper-Tilefish IFQ program will also be discussed.    The workshop schedule is as follows:   Tuesday - March 10, 2015 Courtyard Marriott 142 Library Drive  Houma, LA 70360  (985) 223-8996 Tuesday - March 17, 2015 Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel 64 South Water Street Mobile, AL  36602  (251) 438-4000  Thursday - March 12, 2015 Hilton Garden Inn 6703 Denny Avenue Pascagoula, MS  39567  (228) 762-7182 Wednesday - March 18, 2015 Hilton Garden Inn 1101 US Highway 231 Panama City, FL  32405  (850) 392-1093   Monday - March 16, 2015 Hilton Galveston Island Hotel 5400 Seawall Boulevard Galveston Island, TX  77551   (409) 744-5000 Tuesday - March 24, 2015 Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park 950 Lake Carillon Drive St. Petersburg, FL 33716   (727) 540-0050 Tuesday - March 17, 2015 Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham 501 East Goodnight Avenue Aransas Pass, Texas 78336  (361) 758-1774 All hearings begin at 6 pm local time and will conclude after public input has ended, but no later than 9 pm. A Scoping Guide will be posted on the Council website at http://gulfcouncil.org/fishery_management_plans/scoping-thru-implementation.php. About the 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.   Submit comments and stay updated on fishery issues: Check it out! Go to www.gulfcouncil.org and click on the thermometer in the middle of the page. From there you can read up on all the pending actions, watch the video presentations, read comments, and submit your own. All comments submitted through the online form are automatically posted on our web site for Council review. Other comments are manually posted every couple of days.

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