The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet June 18 - 21, 2012, at the Hilton Westshore Airport Hotel in Tampa, Florida. The Council Committees will begin meeting Monday at 1:00 p.m. and will meet through noon Wednesday. The full Council will convene at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, and is expected to adjourn by 4:00 p.m. Thursday. 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.
Committee meetings Monday include the Administrative Policy Committee, Ad Hoc Restoration Committee, and Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee.
The Data Collection Committee will also meet Monday to review the Ad Hoc Private Recreational Data Collection Advisory Panel Report, and to discuss the Public Hearing draft for a Generic Amendment for Dealer Permits/Electronic Logbook Reporting Requirements.
Monday will close with the Shrimp Management Committee. Up for review and discussion are:
- Report from the Shrimp Workshop and the Shrimp SSC meeting
- Funding for Electronic Logbook Program
- Report on the Kemps Ridley Assessment Workshop
- Status of Biological Opinion and Proposed turtle Excluder Device Requirements by NOAA Fisheries Service
- Exempted fishing permits related to shrimp (if any)
On Tuesday, the Reef Fish Management Committee will meet to receive a presentation by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Regional Management. The Committee will also review:
- Reef Fish Amendment 28 - Grouper Allocation
- Reef Fish Amendment 37 - Gray Triggerfish Rebuilding Plan
- Framework Action for the 2013 Gag Season, a potential split season, and possibly eliminating the February - March shallow-water grouper closure
- Reef Fish Amendment 38 - Revise Post-Season Recreational Accountability Measures for Shallow-water Grouper
- Generic Framework revision
- Reef Fish Amendment 39 - Sector Separation
- Framework Action for Venting Tool Requirements and Definition and Intent for For-hire Fishing in the EEZ
Finally, the Committee will discuss National Standard 1 and Exempted Fishing Permits related to reef fish (if any).
Immediately following the Committee recess Tuesday, the Council and NOAA Fisheries will hold an informal Question and Answer session on general fishery management issues.
The Joint Artificial Reef/Habitat Committees will convene Wednesday morning to discuss artificial reefs and petroleum platforms being designated as Essential Fish Habitat, followed by the Mackerel Management Committee, who will review Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendments 19 and 20. Amendment 19 addresses bag limit sales, trip limits, and latent gill net permits. Amendment 20 discusses boundaries and transit provisions. The Committee will also review Exempted Fishing Permits to Coastal Migratory Pelagics (if any).
The full Council will convene Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Beginning at 2:15 p.m. the Council will take public comment on exempted fishing permits (if any).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 5:30 p.m. Comment cards must be completed before the start of public testimony.
Beginning Thursday 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 4:00 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 subjects 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.
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