August 2017 Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets next week at the Marriott Plaza in San Antonio. You’re welcome to join us in person or watch a live broadcast of the meeting.

Public testimony will be held on Wednesday, August 9 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. local time. If you can’t come to submit comment in person, visit our “Amendments Under Development” page to comment on, and learn about, different issues being considered.

The meeting agenda and materials will help you prepare for the meeting and decide when to listen in. The following is a quick summary of topics the Council plans to address:

Greater Amberjack Framework Action

Photo: Paul Borowski

The most recent greater amberjack stock assessment (SEDAR 33) indicated that amberjack continues to be overfished and experiencing overfishing. The stock has been considered to be overfished and experiencing overfishing since 1998 despite numerous rebuilding plans that aimed to constrain harvest and allow the stock to rebound to a healthy level. As a result of the most recent assessment, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee provided new Acceptable Biological Catch levels for 2018-2020. The Council plans to take final action on a Framework Action that considers modifying the rebuilding timeline, annual catch limits and targets, and recreational season for greater amberjack.

Click here to view the document

Click here to watch the public hearing video

Click here to submit comment

Reef Fish Management for Headboat Survey Vessels

The Council will discuss the criteria that participants must meet in order to vote in the referendum to determine if Amendment 42 will be accepted. Amendment 42 considers creating an allocation-based program to manage reef fish harvest on headboat survey vessels.

Click here to view the draft Amendment

Click here to view the draft Referendum Requirements

Click here to submit comments

Allocation-Based Management for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels

The Council will review a revised draft of Reef Fish Amendment 41 which considers establishing an allocation based program to manage reef fish for federally permitted charter vessels. The Council plans to discuss the criteria that participants must meet to vote in the referendum to determine if the Amendment will be accepted.

Click here to view the draft Amendment

Click here to view the draft Referendum Requirements

Click here to submit comments

Modifications to Federal For-Hire and Private Angler Red Snapper Annual Catch Targets

Photo: Dr. Carrie Simmons

The Council will review a draft framework action that considers changing the buffers between the red snapper annual catch limits and annual catch targets for federal for-hire and private angler components of the recreational sector. The annual catch targets were put in place in 2014 and the council would like to achieve more accurate and fair annual catch targets to ensure the greatest level of harvest without exceeding the component annual catch limits. 

Click here to view the document

Click here to submit comment

State Management of Recreational Red Snapper

The Council will take a first look at draft documents that consider allowing Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to manage their harvest of recreational red snapper out to 200 nautical miles. 

Click here to view the Louisiana document

Click here to view the Mississippi document

Click here to view the Alabama document

Modifications to Commercial IFQ Programs

The Council will review a draft of Reef Fish Amendment 36B which considers modifying red snapper and grouper/tilefish IFQ program participation, distribution of shares from non-activated accounts, restrictions on share and allocation transfers, and allocation caps.

Click here to view the document

Click here to submit comment

Status Determination Criteria and Optimum Yield for Reef Fish Stocks

The Council will hear a presentation and review an Options Paper on an amendment that aims to define and in some cases, modify existing biological reference points. In order to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and National Standard 1 Guidelines, the Council must set maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxies, minimum stock size thresholds (MSST), maximum fishing mortality thresholds (MFMT), and optimum yield levels for managed stocks.

Click here to view the document
Click here to submit comments

Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program Review

Staff with present the Council with an update on the 5-year review of the commercial Grouper/Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program which was implemented in 2010.

Review of For-Hire Permit Moratorium and Transfers

Staff will present the Council with a 10-year review of the for-hire permit moratorium. Additionally, the Council will hear information on the frequency and prevalence of For-Hire Reef Fish permit transfers.

As always, don't hesitate to contact us at gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org if you have any questions. 

April 2016 Council Meeting Preview

Photo: Joseph Cawthon

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets next week at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin, Texas to discuss some important decisions for our Gulf of Mexico fisheries. One of the hottest topics on the agenda is a presentation from National Marine Fisheries Service on this year's recreational red snapper season projection. 

You’re always welcome to join us in person but, since it’s not always practical to travel for a meeting, you can also watch a live broadcast of the meeting. This agenda and the background materials will help you be prepared for what the Council is addressing.

Public comment will be held on Wednesday, April 6th at 1:45 pm. If you can’t make it to the meeting to testify, visit this page on our website to submit comments and learn about all of the fisheries management issues we’re currently working on.

Here’s a quick look at some of the issues the Council will address next week: 

Modifications to Charter Vessel and Headboat Reporting 

The Council is working on an amendment that considers modifying the frequency and method of reporting for charter vessels and headboats fishing for reef fish and coastal migratory pelagics in the Gulf of Mexico. In January, the Council requested that the Southeast Fishery Science Center develop a flowchart illustrating alternatives for implementing electronic reporting for federally permitted for-hire vessels. During the April meeting, the Council will review the alternatives outlined in the flowchart and hear an update on the commercial electronic reporting pilot program. 

Click here to submit comments

Photo: George Niles

King Mackerel

The Council is scheduled to take final action on Amendment 26 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics fishery management plan. Amendment 26 considers changing allocations, stock boundaries, and sale provisions for king mackerel in the Gulf and South Atlantic. 

Click here to watch a short video on the proposed changes

Click here to submit comments

Red Snapper Management for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels

The Council will review the input received from the its Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter-for-Hire Advisory Panel on Reef Fish Amendment 41 which considers creating a red snapper management plan for federally permitted for-hire vessels fishing under the for-hire component of the recreational red snapper allocation. The Council will also discuss the latest draft of the amendment and decide how to move forward.

Click here to submit comments

Federal Reef Fish Headboat Management

The Council will also review a revised draft of Reef Fish Amendment 42 which considers creating a management plan for federally permitted headboats fishing for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Click here to submit comments

Photo: Ava Lasseter

Framework Action - Modify Red Grouper Annual Catch Limit

Based on its science advisors’ conclusions, the Council is considering whether to increase the ACL, which can be set below or equal to the acceptable biological catch (ABC).  The Council is scheduled to take final action on this Framework Amendment. 

Click here to watch a short video on the proposed changes

Click here to submit comments

Shrimp Amendment 17B

The Council will discuss Shrimp Amendment 17B which considers shrimp permit issues such as setting a minimum threshold number of Gulf shrimp vessel permits and whether to create a Gulf shrimp vessel permit reserve pool, specification of optimum yield, and issues about transiting in federal waters. The Council recently convened a working group to estimate the aggregate maximum sustainable yield and optimum yield for all shrimp species, and a summary report of that meeting will be provided to the Council.

Click here to submit comments

Photo: Emily Muehlstein

Hogfish Annual Catch Limit, Minimum Size Limit, and Stock Definition

The Gulf Council is will review a public hearing draft of an Amendment that considers taking responsibility for the western stock of hogfish, which is located entirely in the Gulf of Mexico jurisdiction. The Council is also considering setting an annual catch limit and increasing both the commercial and recreational minimum size limit for hogfish. 

Click here to submit comments

As always, if you have any questions or concerns contact us at gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org

June 2012 Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet in Tampa, Florida on June 18^th -21^st. The meeting is open to the public, so check out the committee agenda and the full Council agenda to see what might interest you.

We also encourage you to take advantage of a couple of opportunities for public participation during the Council meeting:

Question and Answer Session- Tuesday, June 19^th at about 5:30 pm, Dr. Roy Crabtree (the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office) will host and informal question and answer session. This is a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have regarding fisheries management in the Gulf.

Public Comment- Wednesday, June 20^th beginning at 2:00 pm, the Council will host a public testimony session. We encourage you to come and share your fisheries management related comments with the Council.

If you can't make it to the meeting in person we encourage you to watch it live on Gulf Council TV.

Below is a brief description of some of the issues the Council will be working on. If you have any questions please contact me at:

Emily.Muehlstein@gulfcouncil.org

Grouper

Photo: Troy Frady

The 2013 recreational gag season - The Council will review options that examine a split recreational season for gag. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) requested that the Gulf Council consider alternative gag season options that would allow for fishing in both the spring and fall. Opening the season at a different time may reduce the number of fishing days but will allow for gag fishing at a more desirable time of year.

Check out the proposed changes in this document and submit your comments to the Council about the 2013 gag season here.

Changing the shallow-water grouper closed season - The Council will review an options paper that explores the possibility of removing or changing the current February - March shallow-water grouper closed season.  This issue was initiated by fishermen who reason that the closure is no longer necessary.

 Read the document and submit your comments about the closure here.

Gag, red grouper, and black grouper allocation - The Council will review an options paper that contains a range of possible permanent allocations for gag, red grouper, and black grouper. Allocation is the division of an Annual Catch Limit between commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

The current allocations are:

	Commercial	Recreational
Gag	39%	61%
Red Grouper	76%	24%
Black Grouper	73%	27%

You can share your thoughts about the permanent allocation of groupers with the Council by submitting public comment here.

Shallow Water Grouper Accountability Measures - Currently, if the gag or red grouper Annual Catch Limit is exceeded then the entire shallow-water grouper season can be shortened the following year to ensure that the Annual Catch Limit is not exceeded again. The Council will review a public hearing draft of an amendment that may eliminate this accountability measure.

Read the document and let the Council know what you think about the accountability measures here.

Triggerfish

The 2012 recreational triggerfish season ends on June 11^th. The triggerfish stock is overfished (population is too low) and experiencing overfishing (rate of removals is too high). The Annual Catch Limit was reduced to prevent further overfishing and to allow the stock to rebuild to healthy levels. Unfortunately, the recreational sector has caught its share of triggerfish for the year, and the season must be closed.

The Council is working on an amendment that considers making changes to triggerfish management so that the stock can rebuild while you continue to fish. The Council will review an options paper that considers:

·      Shortening the current rebuilding plan
·      Increasing the commercial minimum size limit
·      Establishing a commercial closed season
·      Establishing a commercial trip limit
·      Increasing the recreational minimum size limit
·      Establishing a recreational closed season
·      Establishing a triggerfish–specific recreational bag limit
·      Allowing NOAA Fisheries to close the fishery if the Annual Catch Target is reached

Read the latest version of the document and submit your comments to the Council here. You can also read what other people are saying. 

Sector Separation

The Council will review a scoping document that begins to formally analyze a possible separation of the recreational fishing sector into sub-sectors. Currently, the Annual Catch Limit for most species is divided between commercial and recreational fishing sectors. A sector allocation is the amount of fish that can be harvested by a sector each year. The Council will discuss the possibility of dividing the recreational sector allocation into separate allocations for different types of recreation fishing (charter, headboat, private).

Share your thoughts with the Council here.

Mackerels and Cobia

Photo: Blaine Dedenbach

The Council will continue working on two amendments for the Costal Migratory Pelagic fishery. Amendment 19 considers limiting the sale of recreationally caught fish and making changes to the permit requirements for Coastal Migratory Pelagic fisheries. Amendment 20 considers modifying commercial zone boundaries, changing the commercial opening date for the western zone, establishing a transit provision, and requiring vessel zone declarations.

Read what other people are saying about Amendment 19 here, and submit your own comments here. Read what other folks are saying about Amendment 20 here, and submit your own thoughts here. 

For-Hire Fishing Definition

The Council is working to clearly define the difference between for-hire and private fishing trips in the Gulf. Specifically, the Council will modify the definition of a charter vessel so that there is a definite difference between vessels with for-hire permits that can take clients fishing and private vessels that cannot collect fees or other compensation for engaging in fishing activities in the federal waters of the Gulf. 

Grouper

Grouper

Photo: Tim Sheerman

If you fish for grouper recreationally or commercially, you might want to pay attention to a couple of things the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is considering.

The Gulf Council is gearing up to discuss the 2013 recreational gag fishing season.

This year, the federal gag season is open from July 1 – October 31. The Gulf coast of Florida is open at the same time as the federal season, with the exception of Taylor, Jefferson, Wakulla, and Franklin counties, which are open from April 1 – June 30.  

Inconsistent regulations between state and federal waters are difficult for a few reasons: enforcement becomes complicated; federally permitted for-hire boats are excluded from state seasons; and the fish caught during non-federal seasons are still counted as part of the Gulf-wide Annual Catch Limit and can result in a shortened federal season.

Photo: Troy Frady

Recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) requested that the Gulf Council consider gag season options that would allow for fishing in both the spring and fall.  

The current season was set to allow for the most fishing days possible (123 days). Rates of catch are typically lower in the later summer months, so the season can be open longer before the Annual Catch Target is met. The Council will reexamine the desire for a split open season, which may reduce the number of fishing days, but allow for gag fishing at a more desirable time of year.

The 2013 recreational gag season is scheduled for discussion during the June Gulf Council meeting in Tampa, Florida. The Council will be asking for your thoughts on the 2013 gag season soon.  

The Gulf Council is planning to discuss the possibility of changing the current February – March recreational shallow-water grouper closure.

During the April Council meeting, fishermen asked the Council to analyze the possibility of changing the annual shallow-water grouper closure since the circumstances that initially prompted the closure have changed.

Photo: Doug Gregory

In 2006, red grouper was considered overfished and experiencing overfishing. To reduce the number of red grouper being caught the Council closed gag, red grouper, and black grouper fishing from February 15 – March 15. The Council closed the three species together to prevent effort from shifting to the other species and to reduce bycatch of red groupers. The chosen closure also reduced fishing pressure on all three species during their spawning seasons.

In 2008, gag was determined to be overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Council extended the season closure from February 1- March 31 and limited all shallow water grouper fishing (gag, black grouper, red grouper, yellowfin, scamp, and yellowmouth.)

Red grouper is no longer overfished or experiencing overfishing, and the gag season has changed so that is no longer aligned with other shallow water groupers. At its June meeting the Council will analyze the possibility of removing or modifying the current shallow water grouper closed season.

The Council is working to set permanent allocations for gag, red grouper, and black grouper.

           

Allocation is the division of an Annual Catch Limit between commercial and recreational fishing sectors. In 2006, the Council set temporary allocations for gag and red grouper; and the black grouper allocation was set for the first time last year.

Current allocations are:

	Commercial	Recreational
Gag	39%	61%
Red Grouper	76%	24%
Black Grouper	73%	27%

The Gulf Council has reviewed the historical landings of each grouper species, and NOAA scientists have concluded that the current allocations of gag and red grouper are not economically efficient. 

Photo: Kathy Hoak

The Council has suggested that more information about commercial Individual Fishing Quota share price, for-hire fees, charter client information, captain and crew information, and seafood dealer information be analyzed while the Council develops an options paper. The options paper containing a range of possible allocations for each species will be presented during the June Council meeting.

The Gulf Council may ease recreational shallow water grouper accountability measures.

Accountability Measures are actions that prevent Annual Catch Limits from being exceeded and correct overages if they are.  The Accountability Measures for gag and red grouper are:

·      The season can be closed early if the Annual Catch Limit is expected to be met during the fishing season.

·      If the Annual Catch Limit is exceeded:

o   Scheduled increases to the following years Annual Catch Limit will not occur.

o   The entire Shallow Water Grouper season will be shortened to ensure the Annual Catch Limit is not exceeded again.

o   The following years Annual Catch Limit will be reduced by the amount of fish that were overharvested.

The Council is developing an amendment that may eliminate the Accountability Measure that shortens the entire shallow water grouper fishing season. Red grouper and black grouper are not overfished or experiencing overfishing, and the status of scamp, yellowfin, and yellowmouth are unknown.  Removing the Accountability Measure that shortens the entire shallow-water grouper season could help prevent unnecessary closures of those species.