January Council Meeting 2024

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  January 29 – February 1, 2024

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Monday, January 29, 2023, 8:30 AM – Wednesday, January 31, 12:30 PM CST

Register for After Hours General Q&A Session featuring Mr. Strelcheck, Dr. Walter, and Mr. Anson:  Immediately following Sustainable Fisheries Committee, Tuesday, January 30

Note:  These tabs will be updated on January 12, 19, and 26

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

8:30 am – 9:45 am CST:  Administrative/Budget Committee (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Gen. Spraggins
• Approval of October 2023 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2)– Gen. Spraggins
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Discussion of Proposed Standing and Special Scientific & Statistical (SSC) Reorganization for June 2024 Appointments (Tab G, No. 4) – Dr. Simmons
  • BSIA
• Review and Discuss Ad Hoc and Standing Advisory Panels (Tab G, No. 5) – Dr. Simmons
• Review and Discuss Proposed 2024 Activities and Budget
  • Review and Approve Proposed Activities (Tab G, No. 6a) – Dr. Simmons
  • Review Draft 2024 Budget (Tab G, No. 6b) – Ms. Hager

10:00 am – 11:00 am CST:  Administrative/Budget Committee continued (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins

• Review update to 2020-2024 Administrative Award Anticipated Carryover (Tab G, No. 7) – Ms. Hager
• Review and Approve Proposal Activities for Phase II Inflation Reduction Act Funding for the Regional Management Councils (Tab G, No. 8) – Dr. Simmons
  • Background: IRA Project Proposal Template (Tab G, No. 8a)
• Review and Finalize the Steering Committee Makeup for the Recreational Initiative – Dr. Simmons
  • Presentation (Tab G, No. 9a) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Request Council Member Volunteers for Serving on the Recreational Steering Committee for Chair Selection
  • Background:  Proposed Approach for Fulfilling the Recreational Initiative (Tab G, No. 9b)
• Other Business – Gen. Spraggins

11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST:  Law Enforcement Committee (Tab L) – Mr. Diaz

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab L, No. 1) – Mr. Diaz
• Approval of June 2023 Minutes (Tab L, No. 2) – Mr. Diaz
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab L, No. 3) – Dr. Froeschke
• Summary of Law Enforcement Technical Committee (LETC) Discussion on Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Advanced Landings Notifications (Tab L, No. 4) – Dr. Diagne
• Summary of LETC Discussions: Additional Topics (Tab L, No. 4) – Dr. Diagne
• Other Business – Mr. Diaz

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm CST:  Data Collection Committee (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of October 2023 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Discussion on For-hire Data Collection Program
  • Ad Hoc Charter-For-Hire Data Collection Advisory Panel Report and Recommendations (Tab F, No. 4a) – Capt. Green
  • Presentation: Summary from SEFHIER (Tab F, No. 4b) – Dr. Masi
  • Recommendations and Next Steps for the For-hire Electronic Reporting – Ms. Boggs

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm CST:  Data Collection Committee continued (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Discussion of MRIP-FES Inventory and Action Plan for the Gulf of Mexico – Dr. Froeschke To be discussed during Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Agenda Item E – 4)
• Update on Status of the Timeline on the Implementation of the Commercial Electronic Logbooks – SEFSC Staff
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CST:  Shrimp Committee (Tab D) – Mr. Schieble

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab D, No. 1) – Mr. Schieble
• Approval of October 2023 Minutes (Tab D, No. 2) – Mr. Schieble
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab D, No. 3) – Dr. Freeman
• Update on Early Adopter Program for Shrimp cVMS (Tab D, No. 4) – Dr. Lowther
• Shrimp Futures Project: Workshops to Address Current Challenges and Future Scenario Planning (Tab D, No. 5) – Dr. Walter
  • Summary Description of Shrimp Futures Project (Tab D, No. 5a)
• Other Business – Mr. Schieble

8:30 am – 10:00 am CST:  Reef Fish Committee (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of October 2023 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Draft Options: Modification of Mid-Water Snapper Complex Composition and Catch Limits – Ms. Somerset
  • Document (Tab B, No. 4a)
  • Background:  March 2023 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 4b)
  • Background:  May 2023 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 4c)
  • Background:  July 2022 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 4d)
  • Background:  Wenchman Fishery and Trawl Landings (Tab B, No. 4e) – added 1/30/2024

10:15 am – 11:30 am CST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Draft Options: Gag Grouper Management Measures – Mr. Rindone
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 5a)
  • Background: Gag Hot Sheet (Tab B, No. 5b)
  • Background: Gag Fishery Dynamics (Tab B, No. 5c)
• Final Action: Draft Abbreviated Framework Action: Modifications to Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper – Dr. Freeman
  • Document (Tab B, No. 6a)
  • Summary of Public Comments (Tab B, No. 6b) – Ms. Muehlstein
  • Review of Codified Text (Tab B, No. 6c) – SERO Staff
  • Background: September 2023 Gulf SSC Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 6d)
  • Background: October 2023 Gulf Reef Fish AP Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 6e)

1:00 pm – 3:30 pm CST:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Permit Requirements for Participation in Individual Fishing Quota Programs – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 7) – Ms. Gray
• Review of 2023 Gulf Red Grouper and Gag Recreational Landings and Quota Closure (Tab B, No. 8) – Mr. Strelcheck
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer
  • Update the Ad Hoc Red Snapper/Grouper-Tilefish IFQ Advisory Panel Charge
    • Proposed Charge (Tab B, No. 9) – Dr. Simmons
  • SEDAR Gulf Stock Assessment Schedule (Tab B, No. 10)

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm CST:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Sweetman
• Approval of August 2023 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Sweetman
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• Allocations and Allocation Review Policy (Tab E, No. 4) – Dr. Diagne
• Summary of Scientific & Statistical Committee (SSC) Discussion on Incorporating Social Science Theory and Methods in Ecosystem Assessments (Tab B, No. 6d) – Mr. Rindone
• Other Business – Dr. Sweetman

General Q & A Session featuring Mr. Strelcheck, Dr. Walter, and Mr. Anson

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8:30 am – 10:30 am CST:  Outreach and Education Committee (Tab O) – Mr. Dugas

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab O, No. 1) – Mr. Dugas
• Approval of January 2023 Minutes (Tab O, No. 2) – Mr. Dugas
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab O, No. 3) – Ms. Muehlstein
• 2023 Communications Improvement Plan Progress and 2023 Analytics (Tab O, No. 4) – Ms. Muehlstein
• 2024 Communications Improvement Plan (Tab O, No. 5) – Ms. Muehlstein
• 2023 In-Person Event Outreach Progress and 2024 Plan (Tab O, No. 6) – Ms. Somerset
• Communications Guidelines Book Review (Tab O, No. 7) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Fishery Ecosystem Plan Outreach (Tab O, No. 8) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Coastal Migratory Pelagics Stakeholder Engagement (Tab O, No. 9) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Management Timeline Tool Review (Tab O, No. 10) – Ms. Muehlstein/Dr. Hollensead
• Return ‘Em Right Best Practices Manual Update (Link Only) – Ms. Muehlstein
• Other Items from the O&E Technical Committee Summary (Tab O, No. 12) – Capt. Hubbard
• Other Business – Mr. Dugas

All times listed are CST

• 10:45 am – 10:50 am:  Call to Order, Announcements, and Introductions – Mr. Anson
• 10:50 am – 10:55 am:  Adoption of Agenda (Tab A, No. 3) and Approval of Minutes (Tab A, No. 4) – Mr. Anson
• 10:55 am – 12:15 pm:  Presentations
  • Update on NMFS’ National Seafood Strategy Regional Implementation Plan (Tab A, No. 7) – Dr. Rubino
  • Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 8) – Ms. Lyncker
  • Opportunities to Advance Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) in Gulf of Mexico Fisheries through the Southeast EEJ Implementation Plan (Tab A, No. 9) – Mr. Strelcheck
    • Draft Action Items (Tab A, No. 9a)
    • Background:  NMFS Equity and Environmental Justice (Tab A, No. 9b)
  • Discussion of Exempted Fishing Permit Application (Tab A, No. 10) – SERO

Available beginning on January 29, 2024 at 8:30 am CST

All times listed are CST

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm:  Public Comment – Mr. Anson

• FINAL ACTION: Draft Abbreviated Framework Action:  Modifications to Catch Limits for Gulf of Mexico Lane Snapper (Tab B, No. 6a) 
• Comments on the Southeast EEJ Implementation Plan (Tab A, No. 9)
• Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit Application (Tab A, No. 10)
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 8:30 am – 9:00 am:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins
      • 9:00 am – 9:15 am:  Law Enforcement (Tab L) – Mr. Diaz
      • 9:15 am – 10:15 am:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:30 am – 11:00 am:  Shrimp (Tab D) – Mr. Schieble
      • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm:  Reef Fish (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

All times listed are CST

• • • Committee Reports – continued
      • 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm:  Reef Fish continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer
      • 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm:  Sustainable Fisheries (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman
      • 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm:  Outreach and Education (Tab O) – Mr. Dugas
      • 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm:  Recommendation on Exempted Fishing Permit Application (Tab A, No. 10) – Mr. Anson

All times listed are CST

• • • 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Anson
      • • Louisiana Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab R, No. 1) – Major Aucoin
        • South Atlantic Council Liaison (Tab R, No. 2) – Ms. Marhefka
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Presentation (Tab R, No. 3) – ASAC Bradford
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (Tab R, No. 4) – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard (Tab R, No. 5) – Lt. Fuhs
        • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
        • Department of State
    • 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm:  Discussion of Council Planning and Primary Activities (Tab R, No. 6) – Dr. Simmons / Dr. Froeschke / Mr. Anson
    • 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Anson
      • Litigation Update – Ms. Levy