April Council Meeting 2024

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  April 8 – 11, 2024

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Monday, April 8, 2024, 8:30 AM – Wednesday, April 10, 12:30 PM CDT

Note:  These tabs will be updated on March 22, March 29, and April 5

• Council Committee Roster (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• January/February 2024 Council Meeting Minutes (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2024 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

8:00 am – 10:00 am CDT:  Shrimp Committee (Tab D) – Mr. Schieble

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Mr. Schieble
• Approval of January 2024 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Mr. Schieble
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• Biological Review of the Texas Closure – Ms. Bosarge
  • Summary of the March 19-20, 2024, Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 4a)
  • Background Information: Presentation (Tab D, No. 4b)
• Draft Shrimp Framework Action: Modification of the Vessel Position Data Collection Program for the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery Document (Tab D, No. 5a) and Presentation (Tab D, No. 5b) – Dr. Freeman
  • Summary of the March 19-20, 2024, Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 4a) – Ms. Bosarge
• 2022 Gulf Shrimp Fishery Effort – Ms. Bosarge
  • Summary of the March 19-20, 2024, Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 4a)
  • Background Information:  Presentation (Tab D, No. 6)
• Update on Number of Valid and Renewable Gulf Shrimp Permits and Discussion of Management Implications – Dr. Travis
  • Presentation (Tab D, No. 7a)
  • Background Information:  Shrimp Amendment 17B (Tab D, No. 7b)
• Remaining Items from Summary of the March 19-20, 2024, Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 4a) – Ms. Bosarge
• Other Business – Mr. Schieble

10:15 am – 11:30 am CDT:  Gulf SEDAR (Tab I) – Mr. Anson

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab I, No. 1) – Mr. Anson
• Approval of June 2022 Minutes (Tab I, No. 2) – Mr. Anson
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab I, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review and Discussion of Gulf of Mexico SEDAR Schedule (Tab I, No. 4) – Mr. Rindone
• SSC Initial Discussion about the current SEDAR Process (Tab I, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
• March 2024 SEDAR Steering Committee Meeting Report (Tab I, No. 6) – Dr. Simmons
• Other Business – Mr. Anson

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm CDT:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of January 2024 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Discussion on For-hire Data Collection Program
  • Presentation:  Discussion of Fisheries Economic Data Collection Methods (Tab F, No. 4a) – Dr. Liese/Dr. Travis/Dr. Diagne
  • Amendment Draft Options (Tab F, No. 4b) – Dr. Hollensead
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

4:15 Pm – 5:30 pm CDT:  Closed Session (Tab T) – Mr. Anson

• Preliminary Appointments to the Ad Hoc Red Snapper/Grouper-Tilefish Advisory Panel
• Preliminary Appointments to the Reef Fish and Shrimp Advisory Panels
• Selection of the 2023 Law Enforcement Officer/Team of the Year

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

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of January 2024 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 Program Landings
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 4a) – Mr. Helies
  • State Surveys for Private Angling Red Snapper Landings – State Representatives
    • Florida (Tab B, No. 4b) – Dr. Sweetman
    • Alabama (Tab B, No. 4c) – Mr. Anson
    • Mississippi (Tab B, No. 4d) – Gen. Spraggins
    • Louisiana (Tab B, No. 4e) – Mr. Schieble
    • Texas (Tab B, No. 4f) – Mr. Geeslin
• Presentation: 2024 Gag and Red Grouper Recreational Season Projections – Mr. Strelcheck (Tab B, No. 5)
• Discussion of Conservation and Management of Wenchman in the Mid-water Snapper Complex – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Background:  Draft Options Document (Tab B, No. 6b)
  • Background:  March 2023 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 6c)
  • Background:  May 2023 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 6d)

10:15 am – 12:00 pm CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Draft Options:  Reef Fish Amendment 58:  Modifications to Shallow Water Grouper Complex Catch Limits and Management Measures – Mr.Rindone
  • Presentation:  SSC Recommendations on Black Grouper and Yellowfin Grouper (Tab B, No. 7a) – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation:  Management Options (Tab B, No. 7b)
  • Background:  February 2024 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 7d)

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Review:  February 2024 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 7d) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 7a) – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation
    •  SEDAR 85:  Gulf Yellowedge Grouper Assessment and Projections
      • • Fishermen Feedback for SEDAR 85 (Tab B, No. 8ai1) – Ms. Muehlstein
        • Presentation (Tab B, No. 8ai2) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Other Deepwater Grouper Landings Data and Catch Limits
    • Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Research Track SEDAR 74
    • Comparison of the Reef Fish and Snapper Grouper Fisheries of the Southeastern US
    • 2024 Gulf Red Grouper Interim Analysis Review

3:15 pm – 5:00 pm CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Presentation on Reef Fish Amendment 60: Individual Fishing Quota Programmatic Distributional Issues – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 9)
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

8:00 am – 10:00 am CDT:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Mr. Geeslin

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Geeslin
• Approval of October 2023 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Geeslin
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Birdsong
• Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Landings (Tab C, No. 4) – Mr. Helies
• CMP Special Engagement Session Summary (Tab C, No. 5) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Document (Tab C, No. 5a)
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 5b)
• Draft Framework Amendment 14: Modifications to Gulf Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
  • Document (Tab C, No. 6a) – Dr. Birdsong
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 6b) – Dr. Birdsong
  • CMP Advisory Panel (AP) Recommendations (Tab C, No. 6c) – Dr. Birdsong and Mr. Fisher
• Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel Management Discussion
  • Historical Landings (Tab C, No. 7a) – Dr. Larkin
  • Current Management Status and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 7b) – Dr. Simmons
    • Stallings SHELF Egg Project
• Remaining Items from CMP AP Meeting (Tab C, No. 6c) – Dr. Birdsong and Mr. Fisher
• Other Business – Mr. Geeslin

All times listed are CDT

• 10:15 am – 10:20 am:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Mr. Anson
• 10:20 am – 10:30 am:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4) – Mr. Anson
• 10:30 am – 12:15 pm:  Presentations
  • Brief Update on Recreational Initiative – Dr. Simmons
  • Opportunities to Advance Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) in Gulf of Mexico Fisheries through the Southeast EEJ Implementation Plan (Tab A, No. 8a) – Mr. Strelcheck
    • Draft Action Items (Tab A, No. 8b)
    • Background: NMFS Equity and Environmental Justice (Tab A, No. 8c)
  • Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 9) – Ms. Lyncker

Available beginning on April 8, 2024 at 8:00 am CDT

All times listed are CDT

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm:  Public Comment – Mr. Anson

• Comments on the Southeast EEJ Implementation Plan (Tab A, No. 8a)
• Comments on the Status of the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fisheries
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:00 am – 9:00 am:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Mr. Schieble
      • 9:00 am – 10:00 am:  Gulf SEDAR (Tab I) – Mr. Anson

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:15 am – 11:00 am:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs
      • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm:  Reef Fish continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer
      • 2:30 pm – 2:35 pm:  Closed Session Report:  Announcement of 2023 Officer/Team of the Year (Tab T) – Mr. Anson / Mr. Diaz
      • 2:35 pm – 3:00 pm:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Geeslin

All times listed are CDT

• • • 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Anson
      • • Alabama Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 1) – Major Downey
        • South Atlantic Council Liaison (Tab R, No. 2) – Ms. McCawley
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Report  and Presentation (Tab R, No. 3) – Mr. Walia
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (Tab R, No. 4) – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard (Tab R, No. 5) – LTJG Shinnick
        • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
        • Department of State
    • 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm:  Discussion of Council Planning and Primary Activities (Tab R, No. 6) – Dr. Simmons / Dr. Froeschke / Mr. Anson
    • 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Anson
      • Litigation Update – Ms. Levy
      • Federal Charter Vessel ID Marking Requirements – Mr. Strelcheck
      • Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) Data Confidentiality Proposed Rulemaking – NOAA Fisheries Staff
        • Presentation (Tab U, No. 3a)
        • Federal Register Notice (Tab U, No. 3b)