January Council Meeting 2023

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  January 30 – February 2, 2023

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Monday, January 30, 2023, 8:00 AM – Wednesday, February 1, 12:30 PM CST

Note:  These tabs will be updated on January 13, 20, and 27

• Council Committee Roster (October 2022 through August 2023) (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• October 2022 Council Meeting Minutes (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2023 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CST:  Administrative / Budget Committee (Tab G) – General Spraggins, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Gen. Spraggins
• Approval of August 2022 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Gen. Spraggins
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Discussion of Modifications to Council SOPPs – Dr. Simmons
  • Integration of Harassment Policies (Tab G, No. 4a)
  • Background: Final Model Fishery Management Council Policy on Addressing Allegations of Harassment of Process Participants Other Than Council Employees (Tab G, No. 4b)
  • Consideration of Fishing Violations Recommendations from LETC (Tab G, No. 4c)
• Review and Approve Proposed 2023 Activities – Dr. Simmons
  • Activities (Tab G, No. 5a)
  • Contract (Tab G, No. 5b)
• Review Draft 2023 Budget (Tab G, No. 6) – Ms. Hager
• Other Business – Gen. Spraggins
  • 2023 Advertising for Red Drum and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Advisory Panels – Dr. Simmons

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM CST:  Coral Committee (Tab N) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab N, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of August 2022 Minutes (Tab N, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab N, No. 3) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) Proposed Rule
  • Recommendations from Council’s Advisory Panels – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
    • Document (Tab N, No. 4a)
    • Presentation (Tab N, No. 4b)
      • Coral AP Recommendations – Ms. Krueger
      • Reef Fish AP Recommendations – Mr. Walker
      • Spiny Lobster AP Recommendations – Mr. Padron
      • Shrimp AP Recommendations – Mr. Perret
      • CMP AP Recommendations – Mr. Fisher

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM CST:  Coral Committee continued (Tab N) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) Proposed Rule continued
  • Update on the Protocol for Cooperative Fisheries Management (Tab N, No. 4c) – Ms. Dieveney
  • Draft Council Letter to the FKNMS (Tab N, No. 4d) – Dr. Méndez-Ferrer
• Coral Reef Conservation Program Update (Tab N, No. 5) – Dr. Basher
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer

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

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Sweetman
• Approval of October 2022 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Sweetman
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Alternative Allocation Approaches (Tab E, No. 4) – Dr. Carter
• SSC Report on Allocation Approaches Presentation (Tab B, No. 8bi) – Dr. Nance
  • Background:  September 2022 SSC Summary Report (Tab E, No. 5)
  • Background:  January 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 8b)

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM CST:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman, Chair

• Allocation Overview Discussion (Tab E, No. 6) – Mr. Strelcheck
• SSC Recommendations on ABC Control Rule (Tab B, No. 8bi) – Dr. Nance
  • January 2023 SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 8b)
• Other Business – Dr. Sweetman

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of October 2022 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• FINAL ACTION: Draft Framework Action for Gray Triggerfish Commercial Trip Limit – Ms. Somerset
  • Document (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 4b) – SERO Staff
  • Review of Written Public Comments Received (Tab B, No. 4c) – Ms. Muehlstein

8:00 AM – 10:30 AM CST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• IFQ Focus Group – Dr. Lasseter
  • Presentation: November 2022 Focus Group Meeting (Tab B, No. 5a) – Ms. Hazell
  • Presentation: Adaptive Catch Shares (Tab B, No. 5b) – Dr. Ropicki
  • Presentation: Proposed IFQ-related Issues List (Tab B, No. 5c) – Dr. Stephen
  • Background: August 2022 Focus Group Meeting Report (Tab B, No. 5d)
  • Background: November 2022 Focus Group Meeting Report (Tab B, No. 5e)
  • Background: Compilation of Recommended Changes to the IFQ Programs (Tab B, No. 5f)
  • Background: Draft Amendment 36B (Tab B, No. 5g)
  • Background: Draft Amendment 36C (Tab B, No. 5h)

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM CST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• IFQ Focus Group Outcomes and Program Priorities List (continued)
• Draft Amendment 56: Modifications to the Gag Grouper Catch Limits, Sector Allocations, and Fishing Seasons
  • Update: Gag Grouper Interim Rule – SERO Staff
  • Document: Draft Options for Amendment 56 (Tab B, No. 6a) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 6ai) – Mr. Rindone
  • Background: June 2022 Presentation on Gag Grouper Regional Fishery Dynamics (Tab B, No. 6b)

12:30 PM – 3:30 PM CST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer, Chair

• Draft Amendment 56:  Modifications to the Gag Grouper Catch Limits, Sector Allocations, and Fishing Seasons (continued)
• Draft Framework Action:  Modify the Greater Amberjack and Jacks Complex Management Measures
• • Document (Tab B, No. 7)  – Dr. Froeschke

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

• Revised Recreational Red Snapper Calibration Ratios – Dr. Nance and Dr. Cody
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 8bi)
  • January 2023 SSC Summary (Tab B, No. 8b)
  • Background: Florida Calibration Report (Tab B, No. 8c)
  • Background: Alabama Calibration Report (Tab B, No. 8d)
  • Background: Mississippi Calibration Report (Tab B, No. 8e)
  • Background:  SERO Letters to States re:  January 2023 Calibration Ratios Review (Tab B, No. 8f)
    • Florida Red Snapper Calibration Memo (Tab B, No. 8f.i.)
    • Alabama Red Snapper Calibration Memo (Tab B, No. 8f.ii.)
    • Mississippi Red Snapper Calibration Memo (Tab B, No. 8f.iii.)
• January 2023 Gulf SSC Summary Report (Tab B, No. 8b) and Presentation (Tab B, No. 8bi) – Dr. Nance
  • SEDAR 75 Gray Snapper Stock Assessment Report (Tab B, No. 9a)
  • 2023 Red Grouper Interim Analysis (Tab B, No. 9b)
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer
  • Discussion of Transfer of Federal For-Hire Reef Fish Permits – Ms. Levy

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CST:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs, Chair 

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of October 2022 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Final Action: Abbreviated Framework Action to Modify For-hire Trip Declaration Requirements
  • Document (Tab F, No. 4a) – Ms. Somerset
  • Codified Text (Tab F, No. 4b) – Ms. Levy
  • Public Comments (Tab F, No. 4c) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Modification to Commercial Coastal Logbook Reporting Requirements and Advisory Panel Recommendations– Dr. Hollensead
  • Document (Tab F, No. 5a)
  • CMP AP Recommendations (Tab F, No. 5b)
• Overview Presentation of State Specific Private Angler Licensing and Reporting Requirements Currently used to Define Offshore Anglers in each State (Tab F, No. 6) – Ms. Somerset
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

9:30 AM – 10:45 AM CST:  Outreach and Education Committee (Tab O) – Mr. Gill, Chair 

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab O, No. 1) – Mr. Gill
• Approval of August 2022 Minutes (Tab O, No. 2) – Mr. Gill
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab O, No. 3) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Presentation: 2022 Communications Improvements and Analytics (Tab O, No. 4) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Recreational Data Collection Story Map (Tab O, No. 5) – Ms. Somerset
• 2023 Outreach Event Plan (Tab O, No. 6) – Ms. Somerset
• 2023 Communications Improvement Plan (Tab O, No. 7) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Other Items from the O&E Technical Committee Summary (Tab O, No. 8) – Ms. Muehlstein and Capt. Hubbard
• Other Business – Mr. Gill

All times listed are CST

• 11:00 AM – 11:05 AM:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Mr. Diaz
• 11:05 AM – 11:10 AM:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4) – Mr. Diaz
• 11:10 AM – 12:00 PM:  Presentations
  • Update on Return Em’ Right Project (Tab A, No. 7) – Mr. N. Haddad
  • Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 8) – Ms. Matthews 

Available beginning on January 30, 2023 at 8:00 AM CST

All times listed are CST

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM:  Public Comment – Mr. Diaz

• Final Action:  Framework Action for Gray Triggerfish Commercial Trip Limit (Tab B, No. 4a)
• Final Action:  Abbreviated Framework Action to Modify For-hire Trip Declaration Requirements (Tab F, No. 4a)
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) Proposed Rule
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM:  Administrative / Budget (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins
      • 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM:  Coral (Tab N) – Dr. Frazer
      • 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs 
      • 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM:  Outreach and Education (Tab O) – Mr. Gill 
      • 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

All times listed are CST

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

All times listed are CST

• • • 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Diaz
      • • South Atlantic Council Liaison – Ms. Marhefka
          • Liaison Report (Tab R, No. 1)
        • Louisiana Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 2) – Major Aucoin
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) (Tab R, No. 3) – 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
    • 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Diaz
      • • Litigation Update – Ms. Levy