June Council Meeting Preview

June Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet June 15-18, 2020 by webinar. The Committee and Council Agendas, and meeting materials will be posted as they become available on the Council Meeting’s webpage. Information on how to register for the webinar will also be posted as it becomes available.

Public testimony will be held during the meeting. Details on how to provide testimony during the meeting will be posted on the Council Meeting’s webpage when it becomes available.

Fishing Access in Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Protected Areas

The Council plans to take final action on a document that considers modifying trolling provisions and possession prohibitions in Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Protected Areas. Fishing activity is limited in Steamboat Lumps and Madison-Swanson to protect gag grouper spawning aggregations.  Currently, no bottom fishing is allowed in those areas, but surface trolling is permitted during part of the year.  It is difficult to enforce the no-bottom-fishing regulation when surface trolling is allowed, and the Council heard concerns that illegal recreational bottom fishing is occurring in the areas.

·      Read the Draft Amendment

·      Watch the Public Hearing Video

·      Submit Comments

Impacts of COVID-19

The Council plans to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and may consider management changes to ease those impacts. The Council aims to gather input from fishermen and those involved in fishing-related businesses whose fishing effort or businesses have been directly affected by COVID-19. The Council will continue to follow guidelines set by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act while considering temporary or long-term changes to regulations that may offset economic impacts from the pandemic.

·      Fishing Related Covid-19 Resources

·      Share information on how COVID-19 has impacted your fishing and business using this COVID-19 Comment Tool

Red Drum and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Advisory Panel Member Selection

During closed session, the Council will review applicants and populate its Coastal Migratory Pelagic and Red Drum Advisory Panels. A background check will be performed on selected applicants and membership to both panels will be announced at the August Council meeting.

Vermilion Snapper

The Council will review SEDAR 67: Vermilion Snapper stock assessment which concluded that vermilion is neither overfished nor experiencing overfishing. The Council will hear recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee and may consider initiating an amendment to update vermilion snapper management.

Red Grouper

The Council will continue working on Reef Fish Amendment 53 which considers modifying red grouper commercial and recreational sector allocations and catch limits based on the results of the latest stock assessment (SEDAR 61).  The assessment showed that the red grouper stock is lower than it has ever been.  Additionally, the assessment used the new Marine Recreational Information Program’s (MRIP) calibrated Fishing Effort Survey landings and effort estimates, which increased the estimates of recreational harvest.

Lane Snapper

At its last meeting, the Council was presented with the results of updated yield projections for lane snapper (based on SEDAR 49).  The assessment uses the new calibrated landings and effort data from the Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey and allows for a significant increase in the acceptable biological catch level.  The Council will review guidance from its Scientific and Statistical Committee and work on a document to revise the lane snapper annual catch limits.

October Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets October 22-25, at the Renaissance Battle House in Mobile, Alabama. We invite you to join us in person or watch a live broadcast of the meeting.

Public comment will be held on Wednesday, October 24^th, from 1:30 – 4:30. If testifying in person isn’t an option, visit our “Amendments Under Development” web page to learn about the different issues we’re working on and submit your comments.

The meeting agenda and materials will help you prepare for the meeting. Below, you’ll find a summary of some of the fishery issues the Council plans to address:

Cobia Size and Possession Limits

The Council plans to hear a summary of public comments received and take final action on Costal Migratory Pelagic Framework Action 7. Anglers have expressed concern for what appears to be a dwindling cobia population and asked the Council to address the issue. Landings remained relatively consistent from 2012-2016, however, there was a decrease observed in 2017. The Council is considering reducing cobia harvest by decreasing the bag limit and increasing the minimum size limit.

Photo: David Payne

Watch the public hearing video

Submit comment

Historical Captain Endorsements

The Council will review an abbreviated framework action that considers converting historical for-hire captain endorsements to federal for-hire permits. There are currently 31 historical captains with both reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) permits, and one captain with a CMP permit. At this meeting, the Council will consider new options that would modify the passenger capacity associated with the endorsement.

State Management of Red Snapper

The Council will continue to work on a suite of documents that consider permanently allowing each Gulf state to manage a portion of the recreational red snapper quota in federal waters. In addition to a previously considered alternative that would allow the states to collectively decide whether or not to include federal for-hire vessels in state management, the Council will consider new alternatives that could allow individual states the option to manage their federal for-hire vessels.

Carryover of Unharvested Quota

The Council will look at a draft of an amendment that considers allowing the portion of the allowable catch that isn’t harvested, due to an early quota closure, to be rolled over into the following year’s allowable catch.

Photo: Hubbards Marina

Gray Snapper

Based on the current criteria, the latest stock assessment determined that gray snapper is considered overfished and undergoing overfishing. Fortunately, the recommended acceptable biological catch levels that resulted from the assessment are only slightly lower than the current annual catch limits. As a result, the Council will review a draft amendment that considers establishing criteria to determine the overfished and overfishing status of the stock; modifying annual catch limits, and setting other reference points.

Photo: Florida Sea Grant

Shrimp

The Council will look at a draft of Shrimp Amendment 18, which considers increasing the amount of shrimp effort allowed in the special area that is monitored for juvenile red snapper bycatch. Analysis shows that the effort reduction threshold, which requires that shrimp effort in the area be 67% below the effort in the baseline years of 2001-2003 can be reduced to 60% without affecting the rebuilding of the red snapper stock.

June 2018 Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet on June 18-21 at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel in Key West, Florida. You’re welcome to join us in person or you can watch a live broadcast of the meeting. 

Photo: Erik Cordes

Public comment will be held on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 20, from 2:45 – 5:30 p.m. If you can’t testify in person, visit our “Amendments Under Development” web page to submit your comments and learn about the different issues we’re working on. 

You may find the meeting agenda and materials useful as you prepare for the meeting. The following is a summary of some of the issues the Council plans to address:

Coral

The Council plans to take final action on Coral Amendment 9 after hearing the comments received during public hearings. The amendment considers creating protections for 15 deep water areas in the Gulf that are known to have an abundance of corals and/or coral diversity that makes them unique. The Amendment also considers designating eight new areas for Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) status without fishing regulations and prohibiting dredge fishing in all existing HAPCs with regulations. 

Photo: NOAA

Sea Turtle Release Gear and Framework Procedure

The Council is scheduled to take final action on Amendment 49 which considers allowing the use of new sea turtle release gears for commercial and charter vessel/headboats with federal Gulf reef fish permits. The document also considers modifying the reef fish framework procedure to include changes to release gear requirements and handling protocols for sea turtles and other protected resources. 

Cobia

Photo: Scott Hickman

Cobia is managed jointly with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Meaning, any action considered by one Council must be approved by the other Council as well. At this meeting, the Gulf Council will take final action on Amendment 31 which considers approving the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s decision to remove the Atlantic migratory group of cobia from the federal management plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagics.  This would allow the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission to manage cobia in the Atlantic. 

After hearing numerous concerns from fishermen, the Council is considering a framework action (CMP 7) that would modify the size and possession limits for Gulf cobia. The Council will review that document for the first time at this meeting. 

Red Snapper

The Council will hear the results of the latest red snapper stock assessment which found that red snapper is not considered to be overfished nor undergoing overfishing.

The Council will continue working on a draft amendment that considers permanently allowing each Gulf state to manage a portion of the recreational red snapper quota in federal waters. The 2018 and 2019 red snapper seasons are being managed by the Gulf States through Exempted Fishing Permits which allow the States to manage a portion of the recreational red snapper quota. 

Photo: Rosemary White

The Council will take a first look at a scoping document that considers reallocating the red snapper annual catch limit between recreational and commercial sectors as well as the two components of the recreational sector. The Council previously passed Amendment 28, which reallocated red snapper by shifting 2.5% of the commercial sector’s allocation to the recreational sector. However, a lawsuit resulted in the district court decision which vacated Amendment 28 and restored the previous sector allocations of 49% recreational and 51% commercial. 

The Council will review a draft of a Framework action that considers modifying the buffers between the annual catch target and annual catch limit for the for-hire and private components of the recreational sector.

Spiny Lobster

The Council will continue work on a public hearing draft of Spiny Lobster Amendment 13 which ederal regulations for commercial spiny lobster bully netting consistent with regulations recently adopted by the State of Florida.  This amendment also considers allowing Florida to directly submit proposed spiny lobster regulations to National Marine Fisheries Service without requiring Council action. 

June 2017 Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets next week at the Naples Grand Beach Resort in Naples, Florida. You’re welcome to join us in person or watch a live broadcast of the meeting.

Public comment will be held on Wednesday, June 7 from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. local time. If you can’t testify in person, visit our “Amendments UnderDevelopment” page to comment on, and learn about, the different issues being considered.

The meeting agenda and materials will help you prepare for the meeting and decide when to attend. The following is a quick summary of topics the Council plans to take final action on at this meeting:

Photo: NOAA

Vermillion Snapper Maximum Sustainable Yield Proxy and Annual Catch Limit – Reef Fish Amendment 47

The Council will review public comments and take final action on Amendment 47 which considers advice from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee to update the vermillion snapper maximum sustainable yield and annual catch limit. None of the alternatives in the document are expected to alter vermilion snapper management measures, such as season length or bag limit.

Watch a video presentation

Read the document

Submit Comment

Photo: Jim Green

Minimum Stock Size Threshold for Reef Fish – Reef Fish Amendment 44

The Council plans to take final action on Reef Fish Amendment 44 after reviewing comments received during public hearing. Minimum stock size threshold is used to determine whether or not a stock is considered to be overfished; if the biomass of the stock dips below the threshold then stock is considered to be overfished. This document considers standardizing the way minimum stock size threshold is set for gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermillion snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish.

Watch a video presentation

Read the document

Submit Comment

Photo: NOAA

Spiny Lobster Annual Catch Limits and Targets – Regulatory Amendment 4

The Spiny Lobster Review panel and the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee have recommended that a longer time series of landings be used to set status determination criteria and acceptable biological catch for spiny lobster. As a result, this amendment considers increasing the spiny lobster overfishing limit and annual catch limit and target. Regulatory Amendment 4 also considers prohibiting the use of traps from recreational harvest in the federal water of the South Atlantic.

Watch a video presentation

Read the document
Submit Comment

Photo: Kathy Hoak

Modify the Number of Unrigged Hooks Carried Onboard Bottom Longline Vessels – Abbreviated Framework Action

The Council will review comments gathered on this abbreviated framework action before taking final action. Currently, bottom longline vessels are allowed to carry 1,000 hooks, of which no more than 750 can be fished or rigged to fish at any time. The Council is considering whether or not to modify the number of unrigged hooks allowed onboard bottom longline vessels.  All of the options presented in the document would still limit vessels to having no more than 750 hooks rigged for fishing at any one time.

Read the document

Submit Comment

As always, don’t hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or comments:  gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org

January 2017 Council Meeting Preview

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meets at the end of this month at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans, Louisiana. You’re welcome to join us in person or watch a live broadcast of the meeting.

Photo: Mark Miller

Public comment will be held on Wednesday, February 1 from 2:30 – 5:30 pm. If you can’t testify in person, visit our proposed amendments page to learn about the different issue we’re working on and submit your comments. Comments received by Tuesday, February 24 will be summarized and presented directly to the Council as each issue is discussed during the meeting.

The meeting agenda and briefing materials will help you prepare. The following is a quick summary of some of the topics the Council plans to address:

                               

Charter Vessel and Headboat Reporting

The Council is expected to take final action on a document that considers modifying the frequency and mechanism of data reporting; trip notification and reporting requirements; and hardware/software requirements and the potential for location tracking. The Council will review the document and hear a summary of comments before deciding how to move forward.

Click here to view the full document

Click here to view the document guide

Click here to submit comment

Photo: Allison Sparkman

Mackerel

The Council is scheduled to take final action on Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 – Allocation Sharing and Accountability Measures for King Mackerel. This proposed amendment considers allocation sharing strategies and accountability measures that would allow the commercial sector to harvest uncaught recreational allocation. The Council will hear a summary of public comments received during public hearings before making final decisions on the proposed changes.


Click here to view the full document

Click here to view the document guide

Click here to submit comment

Photo: iStock

Shrimp
The Council will review and public hearing draft of Shrimp Amendment 17B which considers setting harvest benchmarks, setting a target number of permits, creating a permit pool, and allowing transit through federal waters. The Council has scheduled a series of public hearings that will be held across the Gulf Coast in February.

Click here to view the full document

Click here to submit comment

Photo: Emily Muehlstein

Commercial Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program

The Council will review a public hearing draft of Reef Fish Amendment 36a which considers making modifications to the commercial IFQ program. After performing 5-year reviews of the red snapper and grouper/tilefish programs the Council is considering modifying hail-in requirements for commercially permitted reef fish vessels; returning and redistributing inactivated IFQ shares; retaining allocation before a quota reduction; and dealer notification requirements before offloading IFQ species. The Council plans to host a webinar public hearing and send a direct mailing to commercial reef fish holders to gather comments before taking action on this document.

Click here to view the full document

Click here to submit comment

Photo: John Garland

Triggerfish
The Council plans to review a public hearing draft of Reef Fish Amendment 46 – Gray Triggerfish Rebuilding Plan. A recent stock assessment indicated that the gray triggerfish stock continues to be overfished and the Council’s scientific advisors revised the acceptable biological catch levels. Along with determining new catch levels for the stock, the Council will consider changes to the recreational bag limits, size limits, and closed season; and commercial closed season and trip limit. The Council has scheduled a series of public hearings that will be held across the Gulf Coast in March.

Click here to view the full document

Click here to submit comments

Photo: Alex Bender and Allison Sparkman

Mutton Snapper and Gag

The Council plans to review a Framework Action that considers modifying mutton snapper annual catch limit, minimum size limit, recreational bag limit, and commercial trip limit. The Framework Action also considers increasing the commercial gag minimum size limit.

Click here to view the full document

Click here to submit comments

As always, don't hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or comments: www.gulfcouncil.org