April Council Meeting 2022

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  April 4-7, 2022

Register for After Council Meeting Q & A:  Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CDT (approximate time – meeting will begin after Council session)

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM CDT

Note:  These tabs will be updated on March 18, 25, and April 1

• Council Committee Roster (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• January 2022 Council  Meeting Minutes (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2022 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM CDT:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Mr. Dyskow
• Approval of August 2021 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Mr. Dyskow
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Review of 2022 Anticipated Activities and Budget and 2021 Funded Expenditures
  • Review of 2022 Budgeted Activities (Tab G, No. 4a) – Dr. Simmons
  • 2022 Anticipated Budget and 2021 Expenditures (Tab G, No. 4b) – Ms. Hager
• Discuss Electronic Voting Process and Available Technology for Council and Council Bodies (Tab G, No. 5) – Dr. Simmons
• Other Business – Mr. Dyskow

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM CDT:  Ecosystem (Tab Q) – Mr. Anson

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab Q, No. 1) – Mr. Anson
• Approval of December 2020 Minutes (Tab Q, No. 2) – Mr. Anson
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab Q, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Review and Discuss Contracted Draft Gulf of Mexico Fishery Ecosystem Plan – Dr. Heyman (LGL Ecological Research Associates)
  • Presentation (Tab Q, No. 4a)
  • Draft FEP Document (Tab Q, No. 4b)
  • Background: Case Studies and Lessons Learned from Fishery Ecosystem Planning (Tab Q, No. 4c)
  • Background: Stakeholder Assessment and Concept Mapping (Tab Q, No. 4d)
  • Background: Indicator Development for Fishery Ecosystem Planning (Tab Q, No. 4e)
• Ecosystem Technical Committee Recommendations – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
  • Background: September 2021 Meeting Summary (Tab Q, No. 5a)
  • Background: December 2021 Meeting Summary (Tab Q, No. 5b)
  • Next Steps (Tab Q, No. 5c)
• Other Business – Mr. Anson

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Riechers
• Approval of January 2022 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Riechers
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Review of Coastal Migratory Pelagics Landings – Ms. O’Donnell
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 4a)
  • ACL Updates (Tab C, No. 4b)
• Draft Framework Amendment 11:  Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Limits (Tab C, No. 5) – Mr. Rindone
• Final Action:  Amendment 34:  Atlantic Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Levels and Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel Management Measures – Ms. Wiegand
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 6a)
  • Document (Tab C, No. 6b)
  • Codified Text (Tab C, No. 6c)
• Other Business – Mr. Riechers
  •  Discussion on Gulf King Mackerel Southern Zone Gillnet Fishing Restrictions on Weekends (Tab C, No. 7a)

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM CDT:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Ms. Bosarge
• Approval of January 2022 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. Coggins
  • Document (Tab D, No. 4a)
  • Presentation (Tab D, No. 4b)
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 6) – Dr. Freeman
• Update on Current Vessel Position Data Collection (Tab D, No. 5) – Dr. Lowther
• Summary of the March 2022 Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 6) – Dr. Freeman
• Update on Council Request for Proposals to Address Expanded Sampling of the Fleet for Effort Monitoring in the Gulf Shrimp Industry – Dr. Simmons
• SSC Recommendations on Development and Process of Using Empirical Dynamic Models on Brown and White Shrimp
  •  SSC Presentation (Tab B, No. 7a) and March 2022 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 7b) – Dr. Nance
• Other Business – Chair

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM CDT:  Closed Session

• Selection of IFQ Focus Group Participants
• Selection of Coral, Data Collection, and Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel Members
• Selection of 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year or Team of the Year

8:00 AM – 10:30 AM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of January 2022 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Reef Fish and Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Landings – Ms. O’Donnell
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • ACL Updates (Tab B, No. 4b)
  • Federal For-hire Season Projection (verbal update)
  • Supplemental:  Southeast Regional Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Monitoring Webpage
• Red Snapper Private Recreational Component 2021 Landings Summary and 2022 Season Projections
  • Alabama (Tab B, No. 5a) – Mr. Anson
  • Florida (Tab B, No. 5b) – Ms. McCawley
  • Louisiana (Tab B, No. 5c) – Mr. Schieble
  • Mississippi (Tab B, No. 5d) – Gen. Spraggins
  • Texas (Tab B, No. 5e) – Mr. Riechers
• Draft Options Amendment 54:  Modifications to the Greater Amberjack Catch Limits and Sector Allocations – Dr. Froeschke
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Document (Tab B, No. 6b)

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Chair

• Review of Revised Great Red Snapper Count Estimates and SSC Recommendations for Red Snapper Catch Advice – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 7a)
  • Background: March 2022 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 7b)

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Chair

• Presentation and Discussion of Gulf of Mexico Gag Grouper Interim Rule, SRFS Calibration, and Interim Analysis – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 8) – Mr. Strelcheck/Mr. Hood
  • Discussion:  Progress Update on SRFS Calibration – Dr. Porch
  • Discussion:  Progress Update on Interim Analysis Feasibility – Dr. Porch
  • Supplement:  Gag Rebuilding Regulatory Timeline – Dr. Simmons

3:15 PM – 5:00 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Chair

• Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs – Dr. Lasseter
  • IFQ Focus Group Formation and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 9)
  • SSC Presentation (Tab B, No. 7a)
  • Background:  March 2022 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 7b)
• Review of Gulf Red Grouper Interim Analysis Health Status and SSC Recommendations – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 7a)
  • Background:  March 2022 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 7b)
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

Gulf Council and NOAA Fisheries

Public In-Person and Virtual Question and Answer Session

featuring NMFS and Council Leadership

Tuesday, April 5, immediately following the end of Reef Fish Committee (approx. time 5:05 PM – 6:00 PM CDT)

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] and a staff member will ask on your behalf.

Register to join the session online using your computer or smartphone.

To listen in by phone, call :  1-(562) 247-8422 / Audio Access Code: 862-397-157

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM CDT:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of January 2022 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Draft Framework Action – Modification to Location Reporting Requirements for For-Hire Vessels
  • Document (Tab F, No. 4a) – Ms. Somerset
  • Equipment Failure Exemption Implementation Plan (Tab F, No. 4b) – Dr. Stephen
• Update on Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program (Tab F, No. 5) – Dr. Masi
• NMFS-SERO Use of Council Funding Utilized by the Permits Office – Mr. Strelcheck
• Update on Workshop to Evaluate State-Federal Recreational Survey Differences – Dr. Cody
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

10:15 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Stunz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Stunz
• Approval of January 2022 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Stunz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Final Action: Framework Action: Historical Captain Permits Conversion – Dr. Diagne  
  • Presentation (Tab E, No. 4a)
  • Document (Tab E, No. 4b)
  • Codified Text (Tab E, No. 4c) – Ms. Levy
• Allocation Review Guidelines – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab E, No. 5a)
  • Document (Tab E, No. 5b)
    • Supplement:  2018 Council Presentation on Allocation Review Definitions
• Other Business – Dr. Stunz

All times listed are CDT

• 1:30 PM – 1:32 PM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Mr. Diaz
• 1:32 PM – 1:35 PM:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4 ) – Mr. Diaz
• 1:35 PM – 2:15 PM:  Presentations
  • Gulf of Mexico Renewable Energy Update – Ms. Matthews
  • Understanding Population Dynamics of Adult Red Drum Presentation – Dr. Drymon and Dr. S. Powers
    • Presentation (Tab A, No. 8a)
    • Report (Tab A, No. 8b)

Available beginning on April 6, 2022 at 8:00 AM CDT

All times listed are CDT

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM:  Public Comment – Mr. Diaz

• Final Action:  Amendment 34:  Atlantic Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Levels and Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel Management Measures
• Final Action:  Framework Action: Historical Captain Permit Conversion
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow 
      • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM:  Ecosystem (Tab Q) – Mr. Anson
      • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge
      • 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers 

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:15 AM – 10:45 AM:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs
      • 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer 

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM:  Reef Fish continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer
      • 2:20 PM – 2:45 PM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Dr. Stunz
      • 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM:  Closed Session Report (Tab T) – Mr. Diaz

All times listed are CDT

• • • 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Diaz
      • • South Atlantic Council Liaison (Tab R, No. 1) – Ms. Thompson
        • Alabama Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 2) – Major Downey
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) – Mr. Walia
          • Presentation:  FY 2022, Quarter 1 Enforcement Overview (Tab R, No. 3a)
          • Report:  FY 2022, Quarter 1 Fishery Management Council Report (Tab R, No. 3b)
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard – LTJG Peterson
        • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
        • Department of State
  • 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Diaz