The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets at the
Marriot Beachside in Key West, Florida next week to discuss a number of
fisheries issues.
You can watch a broadcast of the meeting live. Check out the
committee and full Council agenda and briefing materials to figure out when the
Council will be discussing the items that interest you. Public comment is
scheduled from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10.
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| Photo: Tarpaw |
Here is a quick description of some of the things that will
be addressed at next weeks meeting:
Mackerel
· The Council plans to take final action of on the King Mackerel Gillnet Framework Action that considers changing the trip limit, accountability measures, reporting requirements, and inactive permits for the king mackerel gillnet fishery. Watch this quick video and send us your comments so Council can consider your input before making its final decision.
· The Council will hear a summary of the input received during scoping on Amendment 26: Modifications to Allocations, Stock Boundaries, and Sale provisions of King Mackerel and Amendment 28: Separating Permits for Gulf and Atlantic Migratory Groups of King Mackerel.
· The Council plans to take final action of on the King Mackerel Gillnet Framework Action that considers changing the trip limit, accountability measures, reporting requirements, and inactive permits for the king mackerel gillnet fishery. Watch this quick video and send us your comments so Council can consider your input before making its final decision.
· The Council will hear a summary of the input received during scoping on Amendment 26: Modifications to Allocations, Stock Boundaries, and Sale provisions of King Mackerel and Amendment 28: Separating Permits for Gulf and Atlantic Migratory Groups of King Mackerel.
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| Photo: Mary Othello Jackson |
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The Council will review an updated draft of
Amendment 28: Red Snapper Allocation – that considers reallocating a portion of
the commercial red snapper quota to the recreational sector. The Council will
also review a framework action to withhold a portion of the commercial red
snapper quota in 2016. This framework will allow the allocation that the
Council intends to shift to the recreational sector to be available in 2016 even
if the amendment isn’t implemented until after individual fishing quota is
distributed amongst commercial fishermen.
· The Council will review revised alternatives in Amendment39: Regional Management – that considers dividing the recreational red snapper quota among different regions in the Gulf to allow for the creation of different management measures that best suit each area.
· The Council will take another look at the scoping document for Red Snapper IFQ Modifications before moving forward with an options paper.
· The Council will review revised alternatives in Amendment39: Regional Management – that considers dividing the recreational red snapper quota among different regions in the Gulf to allow for the creation of different management measures that best suit each area.
· The Council will take another look at the scoping document for Red Snapper IFQ Modifications before moving forward with an options paper.
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| Photo: Emily Muehlstein |
The Council will review a framework action that considers
adjusting the annual catch limits, annual catch targets, and recreational
season for gag. Last year, a stock assessment concluded that the gag stock was
no longer overfished or experiencing overfishing.
Shrimp
The Council will review an options paper for Amendment 17 that
addresses the expiration of the shrimp permit moratorium and is expected to take
final action on Shrimp Amendment 15. This amendment looks at adjusting the
status determination criteria, such as the overfishing threshold, for brown,
white, and pink shrimp. It also
considers changing the shrimp management plans’ framework procedure. If you’re
interested in the proposed amendment watch the video, read the guide, and sendus your comments.
South Florida
Management
The Gulf Council, South Atlantic Council, and State of
Florida have been working on a fisheries management plan that aims to
streamline regulations in South Florida, particularly off of the Florida Keys. The Council will review an options paper that
considers modifying the management structure and some management measures for
yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper, black grouper and shallow-water grouper, to
make fishing regulations less complicated for commercial and recreational
fishermen in the area.
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| Photo: Emily Muehlstein |
The Council will review the recommendations by its
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) relative to hogfish. The latest
hogfish assessment determined that there are three distinct hogfish stocks. The
western Florida stock is neither overfished or experiencing overfishing. The
stock in the Florida Keys and along the east coast of Florida is overfished and
experiencing overfishing, and the status of stock off the coast off Georgia and
the Carolinas is experiencing overfishing and nearly overfished. The Council’s SSC
reviewed the stock assessment and set an acceptable biological catch level for
the west Florida stock. The SSC also recommended that the Gulf Council allow
the South Atlantic Council to set the acceptable biological catch level for the
Florida Keys stock.
