August Council Meeting 2021

August 23 – 26, 2021

Virtual via Webinar

and

Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel
200 South Alamo Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

(210) 222-1400

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  August 23-26, 2021

Register for After Council Meeting Q & A:  Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 PM CDT

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM CDT

Note:  These tabs will be updated on August 6, 13, and 20

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

All times listed are CDT

• 8:15 AM – 8:30 AM:  Induction of New and Reappointed Council Members – Mr. Strelcheck

8:30 AM – 9:45 AM CDT: Administrative/Budget Committee (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Mr. Dyskow
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Mr. Dyskow
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Modification of Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures (SOPPs)
  • Discussion of SSC Membership Composition (Tab G, No. 4a) – Dr. Simmons
  • Discussion of SSC Membership Appointment Process (Tab G, No. 4b) – Dr. Simmons
• Discussion of the SSC’s Best Practices and Voting Procedures (Tab G, No. 5) – Dr. Simmons / Mr. Rindone
• Presentation of the 2019-2020 Audit Report (Tab G, No. 6) – Ms. Hager
• Discussion on Scientific and Statistical Committee Stipends (Tab G, No. 7) – Ms. Hager
• Other Business – Mr. Dyskow

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM CDT:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Ms. Bosarge
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Ms. Bosarge
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• Update on Effort Data Collection for 2021 (Tab D, No. 4) – Dr. Lowther
• Draft Framework Action: Modification of the Vessel Position Data Collection Program for the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery
  • Presentation (Tab D, No. 5a) – Dr. Freeman
  • Document (Tab D, No. 5b) – Dr. Freeman
  • Discussion Item – Comparison Table of Draft cELB and Current NOAA OLE VMS Specifications (Tab D, No. 5c) – Ms. Bosarge
    • Draft Technical Specifications for Reinstituting Historical cELB Program (Tab D, No. 5d)
    • NOAA OLE VMS Type-Approval Specifications (Tab D, No. 5e)
• Section 7 Consultation on the Shrimp Industry and Protected Species – Ms. Lee
  • Presentation (Tab D, No. 6a)
  • Document (Tab D, No. 6b)
• Other Business – Ms. Bosarge

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Riechers
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Riechers
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Review of Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Landings:  Notes on CMP Landings Data and CMP Figures (Tab C, No. 4a) and                                                CMP ACL Updates (Tab C, No. 4b) – Ms. O’Donnell
• Public Hearing Draft Amendment 32: Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group Cobia Catch Limits, Possession Limits, Size Limits, and Framework Procedure (Tab C, No. 5) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Clarification on Gulf King Mackerel Commercial Historical Landings Data
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 5e-i) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 5e-ii) – Dr. Nance
• Draft Amendment 33: Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Limits and Sector Allocations – Mr. Rindone
  • Document (Tab C, No. 7a)
  • CMP Advisory Panel Recommendations (Tab C, No. 7b)
• Other Business – Mr. Riechers

3:15 PM – 4:15 PM CDT:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Mr. Diaz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Mr. Diaz
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Mr. Diaz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Update on Historical Captain Permits Conversion (Tab E, No. 4) – Mr. McIntosh
• NS1 Technical Guidance Subgroup 3 Technical Memo – Managing with Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) for Data-limited Stocks in Federal Fishery Management Plans – (Tab E, No. 5) – Mr. Rindone
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 5e-i) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 5e-ii) – Dr. Nance
• Using Field Experiments to Assess Alternative Mechanisms for Distributing Fish to the Recreational Sector (Tab E, No. 6)
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 5e) – Dr. Nance
• Other Business – Mr. Diaz

4:15 PM – 5:30 PM CDT:  CLOSED SESSION (Tab T) – Dr. Frazer

• Selection of Special Coral, Mackerel, and Shrimp Scientific and Statistical Committee Members

8:30 AM – 9:45 AM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Ms. Guyas
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Ms. Guyas
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Reef Fish Landings – Ms. O’Donnell
  • Reef Fish Figures (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • Reef Fish ACLs (Tab B, No. 4b)
• Draft Framework Action: Modification of Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper Catch Limits – Dr. Freeman
  • Red Grouper Interim Analysis Presentation (Tab B, No. 5e-ii) and SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 5e-i) – Dr. Nance
  • Proposed Management Alternatives Presentation (Tab B, No. 5b)
  • Document (Tab B, No. 5c)
  • Background: SEFSC Red Grouper Catch Analysis Report (Tab B, No. 5d-i) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 5d-ii)
  • Background: SSC Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 5e-i)

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Presentation on Greater Amberjack Calibrated Landings and Catch Limits, and Proposed Management Alternatives
  a. Calibrated Catch Presentation and SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 6a) – Dr. Nance
  b. Background: SSC Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 5e)
  c. Proposed Management Alternatives Presentation (Tab B, No. 6c) – Dr. Froeschke 

• Discussion of Implementation of the DESCEND Act of 2020 (Tab B, No. 7) – Mr. Strelcheck/Ms. Levy
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 7(a))

12:00 PM – 2:30 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Updates of 2021 Red Snapper State Management Programs – State Directors
  • LA Presentation (Tab B, No. 8a)
  • AL Presentation (Tab B, No. 8b)
  • MS Presentation (Tab B, No. 8c)

• Discussion of Final Document – Framework Action: Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Data Calibration and Recreational Catch Limits – Mr. Rindone
  • Document (Tab B, No. 9a)
  • Background: Memos (Tab B, No. 9b)

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Reef Fish Amendments 36B and 36C: Modifications to Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs – Dr. Lasseter
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 10a)
  • Public Hearing Draft Amendment 36B (Tab B, No. 10b)
  • Draft Amendment 36C (Tab B, No. 10c)
  • Ad Hoc Reef Fish IFQ AP Recommendations (Tab B, No. 10d)
• Discussion:  Draft Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 and Reef Fish Amendment 55:  Modifications to Southeastern U.S. Yellowtail Snapper Jurisdictional Allocations, Catch Limits, and South Atlantic Sector Annual Catch Limits – Mr. Rindone
• Presentation on Sector Separation for Four Reef Fish Species – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 12a)
  • Discussion Paper (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, August 24, 5:30 PM – 6:30 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] 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-(562) 247-8422 / Audio Access Code:  769-105-242

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM CDT:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Mr. Anson

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Mr. Anson
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Mr. Anson
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Update on Southeast For-hire Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program (Tab F, No. 4) – Dr. Masi
• Draft Options for Electronic Reporting due to Equipment Failure – Ms. Somerset
  • Presentation (Tab F, No. 5a)
  • Document (Tab F, No. 5b)
• Other Business – Mr. Anson

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM CDT:  Habitat Protection and Restoration Committee (Tab P) – Mr. Banks

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab P, No. 1) – Mr. Banks
• Approval of June 2021 Minutes (Tab P, No. 2) – Mr. Banks
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab P, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Presentation from BOEM on Renewable Wind Energy (Tab P, No. 4) – Mr. Celata
•  Draft: Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment (Tab P, No. 5)
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 5e-i) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 5e-ii) – Dr. Nance
• Other Business – Mr. Banks

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Law Enforcement Committee (Tab L) – Mr. Diaz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab L, No. 1) – Mr. Diaz
• Approval of October 2020 Minutes (Tab L, No. 2) – Mr. Diaz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab L, No. 3) – Dr. Lasseter
• LETC Meeting Summary from March 2021 Meeting (Tab L, No. 4) – Dr. Lasseter
• Approval of Cooperative Law Enforcement Strategic Plan 2021-2024 (Tab L, No. 5) – Dr. Lasseter
• Approval of Cooperative Law Enforcement Operations Plan 2021-2022 (Tab L, No. 6) – Dr. Lasseter
• Other Business – Mr. Diaz

All times listed are CDT

• 1:30 PM – 1:35 PM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Dr. Frazer
• 1:35 PM – 1:38 PM:  Presentation of the 2020 Law Enforcement Team of the Year Award – Dr. Frazer / Mr. Diaz
• 1:38 PM – 1:40 PM:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4 ) – Dr. Frazer
• 1:40 PM – 2:30 PM:  Presentations
  • Movement Patterns and Discard Mortality of Cobia in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 7) – Dr. Matt Streich
    • Background:  Final Report (Tab A, No. 7a)
  • Assessing the Influence of Sargassum Habitat on Greater Amberjack Recruitment in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 8) – Dr. Frank Hernandez
    • Background:  Final Report (Tab A, No. 8a)

All times listed are CDT

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM:  Public Comment – Dr. Frazer

• Potential Reconsideration of Final Document – Framework Action:  Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Data Calibration and Recreational Catch Limits
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow 
      • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge 
      • 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers
      • 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM:  Habitat Protection & Restoration (Tab P) – Mr. Banks 

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Mr. Diaz
      • 11:15 AM – 11:45 AM:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Mr. Anson 
      • 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM:  Law Enforcement (Tab L) – Mr. Diaz

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas 

All times listed are CDT

• • • 3:15 PM – 3:20 PM:  Report on Closed Session (Tab T) – Dr. Frazer 
    • 3:20 PM – 4:30 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Dr. Frazer
      • • South Atlantic Council Liaison – Ms. Marhefka
        • Texas Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 2) – Lt. Casterline
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) – ASAC O’Malley
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard (Tab R, No. 5) – LCDR Motoi
    • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Department of State
  • 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Dr. Frazer
  • 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM:  Election of Chair and Vice-Chair – Mr. Donaldson