The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet August 16 - 20, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza in Pensacola, Florida. Council Committees will convene Monday at noon and will meet through Thursday morning. The full Council will convene at 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The Council is expected to adjourn at 5:30 p.m. Friday. 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 Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee will meet Monday afternoon to discuss an options paper for the Generic Annual Catch Limit/Accountability Measure Amendment, as well as review a summary of the Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committee meeting held earlier in the month.
Beginning Tuesday morning at 9:00, the Administrative Policy Committee will meet to discuss modifications to the Administrative Handbook, followed by the Shrimp Management Committee, which will meet to discuss the take of Smalltooth Sawfish and Sturgeon.
The Reef Fish Management Committee will begin meeting at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the following issues:
- Final action on a framework action for greater amberjack;
- Red Grouper regulatory amendment – codified text of regulations and an interim rule for gag;
- Status report on Reef Fish Amendment 32 – Gag/Red Grouper;
- Discussion of a fish tag system for recreational grouper;
- Discussion regarding black grouper allocation between the Gulf and South Atlantic;
- Discussion regarding the pros and cons of regionalized management;
- Review of a discussion paper on potential red snapper changes;
- Review of the red snapper individual fishing quota program;
- Review of the individual fishing quota finance program, and;
- Review of an options paper for red snapper total allowable catch in 2011 and 2012.
The Reef Fish Management Committee will adjourn at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The Data Collection Committee is scheduled to convene at 3:30 p.m. to receive reports from both the Data Collection Advisory Panel and the Vessel Monitoring System Advisory Panel meetings.
The Outreach and Education Committee will also receive a report from its Advisory Panel regarding the development of a five-year strategic communications plan.
Immediately following committee recess on Wednesday, the Council and NOAA Fisheries will host an informal Question and Answer Session on Gulf of Mexico fishery management issues.
On Thursday morning, the Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee will meet to review an options paper for the Generic Annual Catch Limit/Accountability Measures Amendment.
The full Council will convene Thursday at 1:00 p.m. After a brief investiture ceremony for new Council members, the Council will receive a briefing on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Public testimony will begin at 2:00 p.m., and will be accepted on exempted fishing permits (if any); and a final framework action for greater amberjack. The Council will also hold an open public comment session to give members of the public an opportunity to address the Council on fishery issues that may not be on the agenda. Open public comment will be taken immediately following public testimony until 6:30 p.m. Comment cards must be completed before the start of public testimony.
Beginning Friday at 8:30 a.m., the Council will deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week. The meeting is expected to conclude by 5:30 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 during these meetings. Actions of the Council and Committees will be restricted to those 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 Tina O’Hern at the Council five days prior to the meeting.
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