January Council Meeting 2021

January 25 – 28, 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:  January 25-28, 2021

Register for After Council Meeting Q & A:  Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 5:00 – 6:00 PM EST

Public Testimony Instructions:  Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 2:30 – 5:00 PM EST

Note:  These tabs will be updated on January 8, 15, and 22

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

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Mr. Dyskow
• Approval of October 2020 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Mr. Dyskow
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Discussion of Advisory Panels Due for Reappointment in 2021 – Dr. Simmons
  • Background:  Reef Fish AP and Shrimp AP Meeting History (Tab G, No. 4) 
• Review 2020 Budget and Expenditures (Tab G, No. 5) – Ms. Hager
• Logistics and Estimated Costs of Conducting a Gulf-wide Fishery-Independent Offshore Abundance Study on Red Drum (Tab G, No. 6) – Dr. Simmons / Dr. Porch
  • Background:  Assessing Red Drum Spawning Aggregations and Abundance in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico:  A Multidisciplinary Approach (Tab G, No. 6a)
• Logistics and Estimated Costs of Conducting an Independent Stock Assessment (i.e., outside SEDAR) Process for Gray Triggerfish (Tab G, No. 7) – Dr. Simmons / Dr. Porch
• Review of 2021 Projected Activities (Tab G, No. 8a) and Budget (Tab G, No. 8b) – Ms. Hager / Dr. Simmons
  • Discussion of Council Funding Support for Southeast Regional Office Permit Software (Tab G, No. 8c) – Mr. Strelcheck
• Other Business – Mr. Dyskow

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM EST: Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Mr. Diaz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Mr. Diaz
• Approval of November 2020 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Mr. Diaz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Final Action:  Amendment Reef Fish 48/Red Drum 5:  Status Determination Criteria and Optimum Yield for Reef Fish and Red Drum
  • Public Comments (Tab E, No. 4a) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Presentation (Tab E, No. 4b) – Dr. Froeschke
  • Amendment (Tab E, No. 4c) – Dr. Froeschke
• SSC Recommendations on Interim Analyses Species and Timing (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
• Gulf Interim Analysis Schedule – January 15, 2021 (Tab E, No. 5b) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology for the Gulf of Mexico and Joint Fishery Management Plans (Tab E, No. 6) – Mr. Strelcheck
• Other Business – Mr. Diaz

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST:  Outreach & Education (Tab O) – Mr. Dyskow

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab O, No. 1) – Mr. Dyskow
• Approval of October 2019 Minutes (Tab O, No. 2) – Mr. Dyskow
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab O, No. 3) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Presentation:  Communication Analytics (Tab O, No. 4) – Ms. Muehlstein
• 2021 Communications Plan (Tab O, No. 5) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Fish Science Web Pages (Tab O, No. 6) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • State Data Collection Infographics (Tab O, No. 6a) – Ms. Somerset
• Presentation:  Next O&E Projects (Tab O, No. 7) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Update on Commercial Fish Rules – Ms. Muehlstein
• Remaining Outreach and Education Technical Committee Report (Tab O, No. 9) – Ms. Muehlstein / Capt. Hubbard
• Other Business – Mr. Dyskow

2:45 PM – 5:00 PM EST:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Riechers
• Approval of October 2020 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. 4) – Mr. Hood (SERO)
• Draft Document: Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 32 (Tab C, No. 5) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel Presentation (Tab C, No. 6) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Other Business – Mr. Riechers

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Ms. Guyas
• Approval of November 2020 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Ms. Guyas
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Reef Fish Landings (Tab B, No. 4a) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 4b) – SERO
  • Review of IFQ Program Landings (Tab B, No. 4c)
• Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modification of Gray Triggerfish Catch Limits
  • Document (Tab B, No. 6a) – Ms. Somerset
  • Public Comment (Tab B, No. 6b) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 6c) – SERO Staff

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM EST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modification of the Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
  • Document (Tab B, No. 7a) – Dr. Hollensead
  • Public Comment (Tab B, No. 7b) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 7c) – SERO Staff

12:45 PM – 2:15 PM EDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Final Action:  Framework Action:  Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational Data Calibration and Recreational Catch Limits – Mr. Rindone/Dr. Froeschke
  • SEFSC Integration of Great Red Snapper Count into Red Snapper Interim Analysis Process and SSC Recommendations (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
  • Document (Tab B, No. 8b)
  • Background: Great Red Snapper Project Report (Tab B, No. 8c)
  • Public Comment (Tab B, No. 8d)
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 8e) – SERO Staff
  • Background: Red Snapper Allocation Calculations (Tab B, No. 8f)

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM EST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Review:  SEDAR 70 – Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Stock Assessment
  • Background: Stock Assessment Report (Tab B, No. 9a)
  • Presentation and Projections (Tab B, No. 9b) – Dr. J. Powers
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
  • Something’s Fishy for Greater Amberjack (Tab B, No. 9c) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Background: Stock Assessment Executive Summary (Tab B, No. 9d)
  • Background: One-page Hot Sheet for Greater Amberjack (Tab B, No. 9e)
• White Paper: Sector Separation for Four Reef Fish Species – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 10a)
  • White Paper (Tab B, No. 10b)

Q&A Session

Gulf Council and NOAA Fisheries

Public Virtual Question and Answer Session

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

Tuesday, January 26, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST

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- (631) 992-3221, access code:  142.143.734

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

• Review of SEDAR 64:  Southeastern U.S. Yellowtail Snapper
  • Background: Stock Assessment Report (Tab B, No. 11a)
  • Presentation and Projections (Tab B, No. 11b) – Dr. J. Powers
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
  • Something’s Fishy for Yellowtail Snapper (Tab B, No. 11c) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Background:  Stock Assessment Executive Summary (Tab B, No. 11d)
  • Background:  One-page Hot Sheet for Yellowtail Snapper (Tab B, No. 11e)
• Public Hearing Draft Amendment 53: Red Grouper Allocations and Annual Catch Levels and Catch Targets
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 12a) – Dr. Freeman
  • SSC Recommendations (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
  • Background:  Document (Tab B, No. 12b)
• Remaining Items from SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5a) – Dr. J. Powers
• Other Business – Ms. Guyas

All times listed are EST

• 1:00 PM – 1:05 PM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Dr. Frazer
• 1:05 PM – 1:10 PM:  Presentation of the 2019 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, Sgt. Dupre, LDWF – Dr. Frazer / Mr. Diaz
• 1:10 PM – 1:15 PM:  Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, Nos. 3 and 4 ) – Dr. Frazer
• 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM:  Presentations
  • Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Fish Restoration (Tab A, No. 7) – Dr. Reinhardt
  • Update on Southeast For-hire Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program (Tab A, No. 8) – Mr. Hood / Mr. Malinowski

All times listed are EST

• • 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM:  Public Comment – Dr. Frazer
    • Final Action:  Amendment Reef Fish 48/Red Drum 5:  Status Determination Criteria and Optimum Yield for Reef Fish and Red Drum
    • Final Action:  Framework Action:  Adjust State Recreational Red Snapper Catch Limits
    • Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modification of Gray Triggerfish Catch Limits
    • Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modification of the Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
    • Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are EST

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Mr. Dyskow
      • 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM:  Outreach and Education (Tab O) – Mr. Dyskow
      • 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM:  Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers

All times listed are EST

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Mr. Diaz (Revised Draft 02/01/2021)
      • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas

All times listed are EST

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM:  Reef Fish continued (Tab B) – Ms. Guyas
    • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Dr. Frazer
      • South Atlantic Council Liaison – Mr. Conklin
      • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) (Tab R, No. 2) – Lt. Scarpa
      • Louisiana Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 3) – Major Skena
      • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission – Mr. Donaldson
      • U.S. Coast Guard – LTJG. Peterson
      • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
      • Department of State
    • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Dr. Frazer