August Council Meeting 2023

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  August 14 – 17, 2023

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Monday, August 14, 2023, 8:00 AM – Wednesday, August 16, 12:30 PM CDT

Note:  These tabs will be updated on July 28, August 4, and August 11

• Council Committee Roster (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• June 2023 Council Meeting Minutes (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2023 / 2024 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

8:00 – 8:10 AM CDT:  Induction of New Council Members – Mr. Hood

8:10 AM – 9:30 AM CDT:  Administrative / Budget Committee (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Gen. Spraggins
• Approval of January 2023 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Gen. Spraggins
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Presentation of the 2021-2022 Audit Report (Tab G, No. 4) – Ms. Hager
• Review Final 2023 Funded Budget and Activities (Tab G, No. 5) – Ms. Hager
• Overview of NOAA Fisheries Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding
  • Presentation (Tab G, No. 6a) – Dr. Howell uploaded 8/13/2023
  • Regional Management Councils IRA Funding (Tab G, No. 6b) – Dr. Simmons
  • Follow Up Request (Tab G, No. 6c) – Dr. Simmons
• Other Business – Gen. Spraggins

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM CDT:  Migratory Species Committee (Tab M) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab M, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of August 2022 Minutes (Tab M, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab M, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Update on Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Measures (Tab M, No. 4) – Ms. Brewster-Geisz
  • Background:  Proposed Rule: Amendment 15 – Modifications of Four Commercial Longline Spatial Management Areas and Administrative Changes to Pelagic Longline Electronic Monitoring Program
  • Background:  Scoping: Amendment 16 – Revised Catch Limit for Shark Stocks, Modifications to Commercial and Recreational Shark Fisheries Management (Tab M, No. 4b) 
  • Background:  Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on Electronic Reporting and FRN (Tab M, No. 4c)
  • Background:  Public Hearing Presentation for ANPR (Tab M, No. 4d)
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs, Chair 

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of June 2023 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• SEFHIER Program Update and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 4) – Dr. Hollensead
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

Dr. Evan Howell, Director NOAA Office of Science and Technology will present NOAA’s Key Findings of the Recreational Fishing Effort Study followed by a Q&A for Council Members and Staff.

PRESENTATION

DOCUMENT

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CDT:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Sweetman
• Approval of June 2023 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Sweetman
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Rice’s Whale Critical Habitat Proposed Rule – Mr. Baysinger
  • Presentation (Tab E, No. 4a)
  • Background:  FRN – Proposed Rule (Tab E, No. 4b)
• SSC Recommendations on Discussion on MRIP Cumulative Estimate Reporting – Presentation (Tab E, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
  • Background:  July 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5a)
• SSC Recommendations on Technical Guidance for National Standard 1 Reference Points and Status Determinations – Presentations (Tab E, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
  • Background:  July 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5a)

3:15 PM – 5:00 PM CDT:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee continued (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman, Chair

• SSC Recommendations on Evaluation of Interim Analysis Process (Tab E, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
  • Background:  July 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5a)
• Presentation on Allocation Reviews (Tab E, No. 8) – Dr. Diagne
• Draft Letter on NOAA Fisheries Request for Comments on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for National Standards (NS)  4, 8, and 9 Guidelines (Tab E, No. 9) – Dr. Simmons
  • Background:  July 2023 FRN on Comments for NS 4, 8, and 9 Guidelines (Tab E, No. 9a)
• Other Business – Dr. Sweetman

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM CDT:  Closed Session – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Litigation Update

8:00 AM – 9:45 AM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of June 2023 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Discussion: Gag and Black Grouper Management Alternatives – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • Background: Reef Fish Amendment 56 (Tab B, No. 4b)
  • Background: SEDAR 72 2022 (Tab B, No. 4c)
  • Background: Gag Hot Sheet (Tab B, No. 4d)
  • Background: Gag Fishery Dynamics (Tab B, No. 4e)
  • Background: Black Grouper Hot Sheet (Tab B, No. 4f)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Discussion: Shallow-water Grouper Complex Management – Mr. Rindone
  •  Presentation (Tab B, No. 5)

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Draft Framework Action: Modifications to Recreational and Commercial Greater Amberjack Management Measures – Dr. Hollensead
  • Document (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6b)
• Draft: Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 / Reef Fish Amendment 55:  Catch Level Adjustments and Allocations for Southeastern U.S. Yellowtail Snapper (Tab B, No. 7) – Ms. Somerset

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Status Update on the Anticipated Endangered Species Act Proposed Rules and Section 7 Related Updates – Ms. Lee
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 8)
    • Background:  FRN-Caribbean Coral Critical Habitat Final Rule (Tab B, No. 8a) uploaded 8/13/2023
    • Background:  FRN-Green Sea Turtle Critical Habitat Proposed Rule (Tab B, No. 8b) uploaded 8/13/2023
• Status and Timeline Update for Revised IFQ Goals and Objectives – Dr. Diagne
• Status Update on Recreational Initiative (Tab B, No. 10) – Mr. Strelcheck
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

8:00 AM – 10:30 AM CDT:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Mr. Anson

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Anson
• Approval of April 2023 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Anson
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• SSC Recommendations on Gulf King Mackerel Interim Assessment – Presentation (Tab E, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
• SSC Recommendations on SEDAR 81 Gulf Spanish Mackerel Operational Assessment
  • July 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5a) and Presentation (Tab E, No. 5) – Dr. Nance
  • Fishermen Feedback Summary and Presentation (Tab C, No. 5b) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Background: Stock Assessment Report (Tab C, No. 5c)
• Proposed Engagement in Mackerel Port Meetings (Tab C, No. 6) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Amendment to the 2015 Biological Opinion for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region – Ms. Lee
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 7a)
  • Background: 2023 Biological Opinion for CMP (Tab C, No. 7b)
  • Background: 2017 Biological Opinion for CMP (Tab C, No. 7c)
  • Background: 2015 Biological Opinion for CMP (Tab C, No. 7d)
• Other Business – Mr. Anson

10:45 AM – 11:20 AM CDT:  Shrimp Committee (Tab D) – Mr. Banks, Chair/Mr. Schieble

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Mr. Banks/Mr. Schieble
• Approval of June 2023 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Mr. Banks/Mr. Schieble
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• Re-initiation of Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation on the Authorization of the Southeast U.S. Shrimp Fisheries in Federal Waters, Giant Manta Ray and Shrimp Trawl Interactions, and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 4a) – Ms. Lee
  • Background Information: Request for Re-initiation to Protected Resources Division (Tab D, No. 4b)
  • Background Information: Carlson 2020 (Tab D, No. 4c); Farmer, et al. 2022 (Tab D, No. 4d); Graham, et al. 2022 (Tab D, No. 4e)
• Status Update of Side-by-Side Testing of Cellular Vessel Monitoring Systems (cVMS) and Cellular Electronic Logbooks (cELBs) on Gulf Shrimp Vessels (Tab D, No. 5) – Dr. Walter
• Other Business – Mr. Banks/Mr. Schieble

All times listed are CDT

• 11:20 AM – 11:25 AM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Dr. Frazer
• 11:25 AM – 11:30 AM:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4) – Dr. Frazer
• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM:  Presentations
  • Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 7) – Mr. Celata

Available beginning on August 14, 2023 at 8:00 AM CDT

All times listed are CDT

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM:  Public Comment – Dr. Frazer

• 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) – Gen. Spraggins
      • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM:  Migratory Species (Tab M) – Dr. Frazer
      • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs
      • 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:45 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 – 3:00 PM:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Anson 
      • 3:00 PM – 3:15 PM:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Mr. Schieble

All times listed are CDT

• • • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Dr. Frazer
      • • Texas Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 1) – Lt. Casterline
        • South Atlantic Council Liaison (Tab R, No. 2) – Ms. Marhefka
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Presentation (Tab R, No. 3) and Report (Tab R, No. 3a) – ASAC O’Malley
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (Tab R, No. 4) – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard (Tab R, No. 5) – LCDR Motoi
        • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
        • Department of State
    • 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Dr. Frazer
      • • Litigation Update – Ms. Levy
    • 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM:  Election of Chair and Vice-Chair – Mr. Donaldson