January Council Meeting 2022

January 24 – 27, 2022

VIRTUAL MEETING ONLY

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  January 24-27, 2022

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 8:00 AM – 1:15 PM CST

Note:  These tabs will be updated on January 7, 14, and 21

• Council Committee Roster
  • Current (Tab A, No. 2a) 
  • Revised (Tab A, No. 2b) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• Meetings Minutes from October 2021 Council (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2022 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

All times listed are CST

• 8:00 AM – 8:10 AM:  Election of Council Vice-Chair – Mr. Donaldson
• 8:10 AM – 8:15 AM:  Review and Adoption of Revised Council Committee Assignments October 2021 through August 2022 (Tab A, No. 2b) – Mr. Diaz

8:15 AM – 10:15 AM CST:  Habitat Protection and Restoration  (Tab P) – Mr. Gill

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab P, No. 1) – Mr. Gill
• Approval of August 2021 Minutes (Tab P, No. 2) – Mr. Gill
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab P, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Presentation from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab P, No. 4) – Mr. Celeta
  • Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting (Tab D, No. 6) – Dr. Freeman
• Essential Fish Habitat Generic Amendment (Tab P, No. 5) – Dr. Hollensead
• Draft Response Letter to NOAA Request for Comments on the Area-Based Management Goals related to Executive Order 14008 (Tab P, No. 6a) – Dr. Froeschke
  • Background: One-Year Report (Tab P, No. 6b)
• Other Business – Mr. Gill

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM CST:  Outreach & Education (Tab O) – Dr. Stunz

• • • Adoption of Agenda (Tab O, No. 1) – Dr. Stunz
    • Approval of January 2021 Minutes (Tab O, No. 2) – Dr. Stunz
    • Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab O, No. 3) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Presentation: 2021 Communication Analytics and Updated 2021 Communications Improvement Plan (Tab O, No. 4) – Ms. Muehlstein
      • Background: Updated 2021 Communications Improvement Plan (Tab O, No. 4a)
    • Draft Social Media Guidelines (Tab O, No. 5) – Ms. Muehlstein
      • Presentation on the Council’s use of Social Media (Tab O, No. 5a) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Draft Public Comment Guidelines (Tab O, No. 6) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Draft Press Release Guidelines (Tab O, No. 7) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • 2022 Communications Improvement Plan (Tab O, No. 8) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Remaining Items from the Outreach and Education Technical Committee (Tab O, No 9) – Captain Hubbard
    • Presentation: Summary of Discard and Barotrauma Reduction Efforts Across the Region (Tab O, No. 10) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Other Business – Dr. Stunz

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM CST:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Ms. Bosarge
• Approval of October 2021 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Ms. Bosarge
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• NMFS’ Evaluation of Draft Approval Specifications for Reinstituting Historical cELB Program (Tab D, No. 4) – Dr. Walter
  • Background Information: Review of Draft Type-Approval Specifications for Reinstituting Historical cELB Program for the Shrimp Fishery (Tab D, No. 4a)
• Updated Draft Framework Action: Modification of the Vessel Position Data Collection Program for the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery (Tab D, No. 5) – Dr. Freeman
  • Background Information:  Update from NMFS on Testing of Cellular VMS on Gulf Shrimp Vessels (Tab D, No. 5a)
• Summary of the December 2021 Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting (Tab D, No. 6) – Dr. Freeman
• Other Business – Dr. Freeman

3:45 PM – 5:30 PM CST:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Riechers
• Approval of October 2021 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Riechers
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Landings (Tab C, No. 4) – Ms. Kelli O’Donnell
  • Presentation:  Notes on Landings Data (Tab C, No. 4a)
• Draft Amendment 33:  Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Limits and Sector Allocations – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 5a)
  • Document (Tab C, No. 5b)
• Draft 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)
• Other Business – Mr. Riechers

8:00 AM – 10:30 AM CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Chair
• Approval of October 2021 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Chair
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Review of Reef Fish Annual Catch Limits Landings (Tab B, No. 4) – Ms. Kelli O’Donnell
  • Presentation:  Notes on Landings Data (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • Presentation: IFQ Presentation (Tab B, No. 4b)
• Final Action: Framework Action: Modifications of Vermilion Snapper Catch Limits
  • • Presentation (Tab B, No. 5a) – Dr. Diagne
    • Document (Tab B, No. 5b) – Dr. Diagne
    • Public Comments Received (Tab B, No. 5c) – Ms. Muehlstein
    • Reef Fish AP Summary – January 2022 Meeting (Tab B, No. 6b) – Mr. Rindone
    • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 5d) – Ms. Levy

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) continued – Chair

• Presentation on SEDAR 70: Greater Amberjack Revised Projections
  • Review of SEDAR 70 Revised Projections Method and SSC Recommendations/Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a) – Dr. Nance
  • Reef Fish AP Recommendations:  RF AP Summary January 2022 (Tab B, No. 6b) – Mr. Rindone
  • Background:  SSC November 2021 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6ci) and SSC January 2022 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6cii)
  • Background:  Greater Amberjack One-page Hot Sheet (Tab B, No. 6d)
• Presentation on SEDAR 72: Gag Grouper Stock Assessment Report
  • Presentation: Projections and SSC Recommendations (Tab B, No. 6a) – Dr. Nance
  • Reef Fish AP Recommendations:  RF AP Summary January 2022 (Tab B, No. 6b) – Mr. Rindone
  • Discussion – Council Request for SRFS Integration and Update Assessment of SEDAR 72 – Dr. Porch / Mr. Strelcheck
  • Background: Stock Assessment Report (Tab B, No. 7b) – Dr. Nance
  • Background: SSC November 2021 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6ci) and SSC January 2022 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6cii)
  • Background: Gag One-page Hot Sheet (Tab B, No. 7c)

12:00 PM – 1:45 PM CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) continued – Chair

• Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs – Dr. Lasseter
  • Focus Group Formation and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 8a)
  • Public Hearing Draft Amendment 36B (Tab B, No. 8b)
• 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

2:00 PM – 4:15 PM CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) continued – Chair

• Discussion:  Wenchman in the Gulf of Mexico – Ms. Bosarge/Mr. Rindone
  • Landings History (Tab B, No. 10a) – Mr. Hood
  • Background: Generic ACL/AM Amendment (Tab B, No. 10b)
• Review of Revised Great Red Snapper Count Estimates and SSC Recommendations for Re-evaluating Red Snapper Catch Advice – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Background:  SSC November 2021 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6ci) and SSC January 2022 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6cii)
• Discussion of Remaining SSC Recommendations from the January 2022 SSC Meeting – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Background:  SSC November 2021 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6ci) and SSC January 2022 Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6cii)
• Discussion of Remaining Reef Fish AP Recommendations from the January 2022 Reef Fish AP Meeting – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 13)
  • Background:  January 2022 Reef Fish AP Meeting Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6b)
• Other Business – Chair

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM CST:  Closed Council Session (Tab T) – Mr. Diaz

• Overview and Selection of IFQ Focus Group Participants

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of October 2021 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 and Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP) Recommendations – Ms. Somerset
  • Document (Tab F, No. 4a)
  • Reef Fish AP Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6b)
• Presentation: Update on Modifications to the Commercial Electronic Reporting Program (Tab F, No. 5) – Dr. Brown
• Update on the Southeast For-hire Integrated Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program (Tab F, No. 6) – Dr. Masi
  • Presentation and Discussion on Potential use of COLREGS (Tab F, No. 6a) – Dr. Masi/Dr. Stephen
  • Discussion on Autofill Reporting (Tab F, No. 6b) – Dr. Masi/Dr. Stephen
  • Reef Fish AP Summary Report (Tab B, No. 6b)
• Update on Upcoming Workshop to Evaluate State-Federal Recreational Survey Differences – Dr. Cody
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM CST:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Stunz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Stunz
• Approval of October 2021 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Stunz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology
  • • Presentation (Tab E, No. 4a) – Mr. Luers
    • Document (Tab E, No. 4b)
    • SSC Recommendations Presentation (Tab B. No. 6a) and January 2022 Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 6cii) – Dr. Barbieri
• Other Business – Dr. Stunz

All times listed are CST

• 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 – 2:00 PM:  Presentation
  • Density Estimations of Age-0 and Age-1 Gray Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus, and Vermilion Snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens, from 2007 to 2015, in the northern Gulf of Mexico – Dr. Szedlmayer
    • Presentation (Tab A, No. 7a)
    • Report:  An analysis of the early life history of gray triggerfish based on small artificial patch-reefs (Tab A, No. 7b)
    • Report:  An Analysis of early life history in vermilion snapper based on diver visual surveys of artificial patch-reefs (Tab A, No. 7c)

All times listed are CST

2:15 PM – 5:30 PM:  Public Comment – Mr. Diaz

• Final Action:  Framework Action:  Modifications of Vermilion Snapper Catch Limits
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM:  Habitat Protection and Restoration (Tab P) – Mr. Gill 
      • 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Ms. Bosarge 
      • 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:  Outreach and Education (Tab O) – Dr. Stunz
      • 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Mackerel (Tab C) – Mr. Riechers 

All times listed are CST

• • • 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) – Chair 

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Chair
      • 2:30 PM – 2:55 PM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Dr. Stunz
      • 2:55 PM – 3:00 PM:  Closed Session Report (Tab T) – Mr. Diaz

All times listed are CST

• • • 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Diaz
      • • South Atlantic Council Liaison Report (Tab R, No. 1) – Ms. Marhefka
        • Louisiana Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 2) – Major Skena
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) – ASAC O’Malley
          • Fiscal Year 2021, Quarter 4 Fishery Management Council Report (Tab R, No. 3a) and FY 2021 Quarter 4 Enforcement Overview (Tab R, No. 3b)
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard – LTJG Adam Peterson
        • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
        • Department of State
  • 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Diaz