April Council Meeting 2021

April 12 – 15, 2021

Meeting Time is Eastern Time Zone

via Adobe Connect Webinar (no need to pre-register – use this link daily to join the meeting)

Important Links

Log in Council Meeting Webinar:  April 12-15, 2021

Register for After Council Meeting Q & A:  Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 PM EDT

Public Testimony Instructions:  Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 2:00 – 5:30 PM EDT

Note:  These tabs will be updated on March 26 and April 2 and 9

• Council Committee Roster 2020-2021 (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• Meetings Minutes from January 2021 Council (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2021 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT:  CLOSED SESSION (Tab T) – Dr. Frazer

• Agenda
• Selection of Reef Fish Advisory Panel Members
• Selection of Shrimp Advisory Panel Members
• Selection of 2020 Law Enforcement Officer/Team of the Year
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

10:15 AM – 12:15 PM EDT:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Ms. Bosarge
• Approval of November 2020 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Ms. Bosarge
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• Biological Review of the Texas Closure – Dr. Masi
  • Document (Tab D, No. 4a)
  • Presentation (Tab D, No. 4b)
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 8) – Dr. Freeman
• Gulf Shrimp Fishery Effort and Landings (Tab D, No. 5) – Dr. Masi
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 8) – Dr. Freeman
• 2019 Royal Red Shrimp Index (Tab D, No. 6) – Dr. Masi
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 8) – Dr. Freeman
• Update on Effort Data Collection
  • Status of 3G cELBs – Dr. Gloeckner (Tab D, No. 7a)
    • Background Information: Generic Letter from SEFSC on cELBs (Tab D, No. 7a(i))
  • Pilot Program Using P-Sea WindPlot (Tab D, No. 7b) – Dr. Gallaway
  • Alternative Options for Consideration (Tab D, No. 7c) – Dr. Gloeckner
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 8) – Dr. Freeman
• Remaining Items from Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 8) – Dr. Freeman
• Other Business – Ms. Bosarge

1:15 PM – 3:45 PM EDT:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Riechers
• Approval of January 2021 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Riechers
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Coastal Migratory Pelagics Landings Update (Tab C, No. 4a) and Presentation (Tab C, No. 4b) – Mr. Hood
• Amendment 32:  Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group Cobia Catch Limits, Possession Limits, Size Limits, and Framework Procedure and South Atlantic Recommendations – Dr. Mendez-Ferrer
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 5a)
  • Document (Tab C, No. 5b)
  • Coastal Migratory Pelagics AP Recommendations (Tab C, No. 6)
• Remaining Coastal Migratory Pelagics AP Recommendations (Tab C, No. 6)
• Discussion of Individual Fishing Quota for the Gulf King Mackerel Commercial Southern Gillnet Zone (Tab C, No. 7) – Mr. Sanchez
• Other Business – Mr. Riechers

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EDT: Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Mr. Anson

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Mr. Anson
• Approval of October 2020 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Mr. Anson
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• AP Recommendations for Proposed Commercial e-logbook Requirements (Tab F, No. 4) – Dr. Hollensead
• Update on Southeast For-hire Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program (Tab F, No. 5) – Mr. Hood / Mr. Malinowski
• Presentation:  Methodology used for Red Snapper Recreational and Commercial Discards used in Stock Assessments and Annual Catch Level Monitoring(Tab F, No. 6) – SEFSC Staff
• Other Business – Mr. Anson
  • Presentation: Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Commercial Dead Discards (Tab F, No. 7)

9:00 AM – 11:15 AM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Ms. Guyas
• Approval of January 2021 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Ms. Guyas
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Status of NOAA Fisheries’ MRIP 2020 Recreational Fisheries Catch Estimation Process (Tab B, No. 4) – Dr. Cody
• Review of Reef Fish Landings (Tab B, No. 5a) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 5b) – SERO Staff
  • Review of IFQ Program Landings (Tab B, No. 5c)
• Review of the Great Red Snapper Count Project – Dr. Lorenzen
  • Background: Great Red Snapper Count Project Report (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • SSC Recommendations Presentation (Tab B, No. 6b)
  • Background: March 2021 SSC Summary (Tab B, No. 6c)
  • Background: March 2021 SSC Minutes (Tab B, No. 6d)
  • Independent Consultant Memos
    • Independent Consultant Memo 1:  Mary Christman (Tab B, No. 6e)
    • Independent Consultant Memo 2:  Steve Cadrin (Tab B, No. 6f)
    • Independent Consultant Memo 3:  David Eggleston (Tab B, No. 6g)

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Final Action: Framework Action: Modification of Annual Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper – Dr. Froeschke
  • SSC Review of the Red Snapper Catch Analysis (Tab B, No. 6b.i) – Dr. Lorenzen  
    • Background: SEFSC Red Snapper Catch Analysis Report (Tab B, No. 7a)
    • Background: SSC March 2021 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6c)
  • Background:  SEFSC NMFS BLL Red Snapper Catch Analysis Report (Tab B, No. 7b)
  • Supplemental Material: Additional Analyses of Relative Abundance for Red Snapper Captured During
    Fishery Independent Bottom Longline Surveys in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Tab B, No. 7b1)
  • Public Comment (Tab B, No. 7c) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Document (Tab B, No. 7d) – Dr. Froeschke
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 7e) – SERO Staff

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Final Action:  Framework Action: Modification of Annual Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper – Continued
• Final Action:  Framework Action: Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Data Calibration and Recreational Catch Limits – Mr. Rindone
  • Document (Tab B, No. 8a) – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 8b) – Ms. Muehlstein and Mr. Rindone
  • Public Comment (Tab B, No. 8c) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 8d) – SERO Staff

4:15 PM – 5:30 PM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Revised Public Hearing Draft Amendment 53: Red Grouper Allocations and Annual Catch Levels and Catch Targets
  • Presentation:  Weight Estimation Methods (Tab B, No. 9a.i) – Dr. Cody / Dr. Cass-Calay
    • Background:  Red Grouper 2015-2019 Lengths and Weights (Tab B, No. 9a.ii)
    • Supplemental material: Comparison of SEDAR 61 Predicted Recreational Landings and MRIP FES Recreational Landings for Red Grouper (Tab B, No. 9a.iii)
  • Amendment Presentation (Tab B, No. 9b.i) and Management Considerations for using Interim ABC Analyses (Tab B, No. 9b.ii) – Dr. Freeman / Dr. Simmons
  • Reef Fish AP Recommendations (Tab B, No. 9c) – Mr. Rindone / Capt. Walker
  • Background:  Document (Tab B, No. 9d)
• Remaining Items from January 2021 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 10) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 10i) – Dr. Lorenzen
• Remaining Items from February 2021 Reef Fish AP Summary Report (Tab B, No. 9c) – Mr. Rindone / Capt. Walker
• Discussion of Implementation of the DESCEND Act of 2020 – Mr. Strelcheck / Ms. Levy
  • Document (Tab B, No. 12a)
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 12b)
• Other Business – Ms. Guyas

Gulf Council and NOAA Fisheries

Public Virtual Question and Answer Session

featuring Dr. Frazer, Dr. Porch, and Mr. Strelcheck

Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM EDT

Participants will be able to listen online through the GoToWebinar application or through the phone.  If you want to speak to ask a question, you must join the webinar online.  Alternatively, during the meeting, you can email questions to [email protected] or text them to (813) 317-6220 and a staff member will ask on your behalf.

See LINK above to register to join the session online using your computer or smartphone.

To listen in by phone, call :  1-(415) 655-0052  / Audio Access Code:  989-129-913

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT:  Habitat Protection and Restoration Committee (Tab P) – Mr. Banks

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab P, No. 1) – Mr. Banks
• Approval of August 2019 Minutes (Tab P, No. 2) – Mr. Banks
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab P, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Presentation on Development of Generic EFH Amendment (Tab P, No. 4) – Dr. Hollensead
  • Background: SERO letter from 2016 Five Year Review (Tab P, No. 4a)
• Discussion Session on President Biden’s E.O. 14008, Section 216 (c) titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (Tab P, No. 5) – Dr. Doremus
  • Background:  FRN-E.O. 14008 of January 27, 2021 (Tab P, No. 5a)
• Other Business – Mr. Banks

All times listed are EDT

• 11:15 AM – 11:20 AM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Dr. Frazer
• 11:20 AM – 11:25 AM:  Announcement of the 2020 Law Enforcement Officer or Team of the Year Award – Dr. Frazer / Mr. Diaz
• 11:25 AM – 11:30 AM:  Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, Nos. 3 and 4 ) – Dr. Frazer
• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM:  Presentation
  • Exploring Unexplained Variability in Stock-Recruitment Relationship Estimates for the Gulf of Mexico’s Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) – Dr. Kilborn
    • Presentation (Tab A, No. 7a)
    • Report (Tab A, No. 7b)

All times listed are EDT

• Recommendations to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council: Coordinating Data and Approaches to Conduct a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Stock Assessment – Dr. Gallaway and Dr. Putnam
  • Presentation (Tab A, No. 8a)
  • Report (Tab A, No. 8b)

All times listed are EDT

• • 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM:  Public Comment – Dr. Frazer
  • Public Testimony Instructions:  Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 2:00 – 5:30 PM EDT
    • Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modify Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Catch Limits
    • Final Action:  Framework Action:  Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Data Calibration and Recreational Catch Limits
    • Comments on E.O. 14008 Sec 216c: Conserving Our Nations Lands and Waters
    • Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are EDT

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge 
      • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers 
      • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Mr. Anson 

All times listed are EDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM:  Habitat Protection and Restoration (Tab P) – Mr. Banks 
      • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

All times listed are EDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM:  Reef Fish continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas 

All times listed are EDT

• • • 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Dr. Frazer
      • South Atlantic Council Liaison – Capt. Woodward
      • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) (Tab R, No. 2) – Lt. Scarpa
      • Mississippi Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 3) – Sgt. Carron
      • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission – Mr. Donaldson
      • U.S. Coast Guard – Lt. Giancola
        • Background:  LINK TO E.O. 13998.  Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel
        • Background:  CDC FAQ (Tab R, No. 5)
      • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
      • Department of State
    • 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Dr. Frazer
      • Discussion:  USDA Dietary Guidelines from Department of Health and Human Services – Ms. Bosarge
      • Background Information on Other Executive Orders from NMFS Headquarters (Tab U, No. 1)