June Council Meeting 2024

Important Links

Virtual Participation Instructions Including Virtual Public Testimony

Register/Log in to Council Meeting via Webinar:  June 24 – 28, 2024

Register for Virtual Public Testimony:  Available Monday, June 24, 2024, 8:30 AM – Wednesday, June 28, 12:30 PM CDT

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

• Council Committee Roster (Tab A, No. 2) 
• Committees and Council Agenda (Tab A, No. 3)
• April 2024 Council Meeting Minutes (Tab A, No. 4)
• 2024 / 2025 Council Meeting Dates (Tab A, No. 5)
• Action Schedule (Tab A, No. 6)

8:30 am – 10:00 am CDT:  Administrative/Budget Committee (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab G, No. 1) – Gen. Spraggins
• Approval of January 2024 Minutes (Tab G, No. 2) – Gen. Spraggins
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab G, No. 3) – Dr. Simmons
• Discussion of Modifications to Council SOPPs (Tab G, No. 4) – Dr. Simmons
  • Participation Requirements for SSC, AP, and Technical Committee Members (Sections 2.53 and 2.63)
  • Reporting Requirement for Council Compensation (Section 3.8)
  • Anti-Harassment Training (Section 4.8.1)
• Update Status on Information on Inflation Reduction Act Funding for the Regional Management Councils – Dr. Simmons
• Other Business – Gen. Spraggins

10:15 am – 12:00 pm CDT:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab F, No. 1) – Ms. Boggs
• Approval of April 2024 Minutes (Tab F, No. 2) – Ms. Boggs
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab F, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Discussion on For-hire Data Collection Program
  • Draft Amendment (Tab F, No. 4a) – Dr. Hollensead
  • Discussion of HMS Economic Data Collection – Dr. Hollensead
    • Background:  HMS Electronic Data Collection ANPR Presentation (Tab F, No. 4b)
  • Presentation: Options for Effort Validation (Tab F, No. 4c) – Dr. Masi
• Discussion of NOAA Fisheries Guidance on MRIP-FES Transition Document (Tab F, No. 5) – Dr. Hollensead
• Update on Status of Commercial ELB Document – Ms. Alhale
• Other Business – Ms. Boggs

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm CDT:  Sustainable Fisheries Committee (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab E, No. 1) – Dr. Sweetman
• Approval of January 2024 Minutes (Tab E, No. 2) – Dr. Sweetman
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab E, No. 3) – Dr. Diagne
• SSC Recommendations from May 2024 Meeting – Dr. Nance
  • Presentation (Tab E, No. 4a)
  • Background:  May 7-8, 2024 SSC Meeting Summary (Tab E, No. 4b)
• May 2024 SEDAR Steering Committee Meeting Report – Mr. Rindone
  • Background:  Letter to SEFSC to Identify Key Stocks for Catch Advice (Tab E, No. 5a)
  • Background:  March 25-26, 2024 SEDAR Steering Committee Report (Tab E, No. 5b)
• Other Business – Dr. Sweetman

2:45 pm – 5:30 pm CDT:  Closed Session (Tab T) – Mr. Anson

• Finalize Appointments to the Ad Hoc Red Snapper/Grouper-Tilefish IFQ Program Advisory Panel
• Finalize Appointments to the Reef Fish and Shrimp Advisory Panels
• Selection of Standing and Special Scientific and Statistical Committee Members for 2024-2027 Term

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

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab B, No. 1) – Dr. Frazer
• Approval of April 2024 Minutes (Tab B, No. 2) – Dr. Frazer
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab B, No. 3) – Mr. Rindone
• Discussion:  Reef Fish Amendment 60:  Individual Fishing Quota Programmatic Distributional Issues – Dr. Diagne
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 4)

10:15 am – 11:45 am CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Draft Options:  Reef Fish Amendment 59:  Requirements for Participation in Individual Fishing Quota Programs
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 5) – Dr. Diagne / Dr. Stephen

1:15 pm – 3:00 pm CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Presentation and Discussion on the 20-Fathom Recreational Seasonal Closure for Shallow-water Grouper
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 6a) – Dr. Froeschke
  • Reef Fish Advisory Panel Recommendations (Tab B, No. 6b) – Mr. Rindone / Capt. Hubbard
• Discussion: NMFS Letter to Gulf Council on Lane Snapper Overfishing – Mr. Helies / Mr. Rindone / Capt. Hubbard
  • NMFS Letter (Tab B, No. 7a)
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 7b)
  • Reef Fish AP Recommendations (Tab B, No. 6b)

3:15 pm – 5:00 pm CDT:  Reef Fish Committee continued (Tab B) – Dr. Frazer

• Review: Reef Fish AP Charter For-hire Buffer and Fishing Season for Red Snapper, and Other Business (Tab B, No. 8) – Mr. Rindone / Capt. Hubbard
  • April 2024 Gulf Reef Fish AP Summary (Tab B, No. 6b)
• Update and Next Steps on Recreational Initiative – Dr. Goldsmith / Dr. Simmons
  • Presentation (Tab B, No. 9a)
  • Background:  May 2024 Steering Committee Meeting Summary (Tab B, No. 9b)
• Other Business – Dr. Frazer
  • 2024 Recreational Season for Gag – SERO Staff

8:30 am – 9:45 am CDT:  Mackerel Committee (Tab C) – Mr. Geeslin

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab C, No. 1) – Mr. Geeslin
• Approval of April 2024 Minutes (Tab C, No. 2) – Mr. Geeslin
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab C, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Draft Framework Amendment 14:  Modifications to Gulf Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Catch Limits and Accountability Measures – Dr. Birdsong
  • Document (Tab C, No. 4a)
  • Presentation (Tab C, No. 4b)
• Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel Management Draft Options (Tab C, No. 5) – Dr. Hollensead
• Other Business – Mr. Geeslin

9:45 am – 10:30 am CDT:  Migratory Species Committee (Tab M) –  Dr. Banks

• Adoption of Agenda (Tab M, No. 1) – Dr. Banks
• Approval of August 2023 Minutes (Tab M, No. 2) – Dr. Banks
• Action Guide and Next Steps (Tab M, No. 3) – Dr. Hollensead
• Scoping Document: Gear Considerations in Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
  • Presentation (Tab M, No. 4a) – Mr. DuBeck
  • Background: Document (Tab M, No. 4b)
• Other Business – Dr. Banks

All times listed are CDT

• 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 – 12:00 pm:  Presentations
  • Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico (Tab A, No. 7) – Ms. Lyncker
  • Texas Law Enforcement Efforts (Tab A, No. 8) – Lt. Casterline

Available beginning on June 24, 2024 at 8:30 am CDT

All times listed are CDT

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

• Scoping Document: Gear Considerations in Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
• Comments on the Status of the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery
• Open Testimony on Other Fishery Issues or Concerns

All times listed are CDT

Presentation and Discussion

• • • 8:30 am – 9:30 am CDT 
      • Flower Garden Banks Presentation on Management Considerations for Wahoo (Tab A, No. 9) – Dr. Johnston
      • Overview of Regulatory Options for Management of Wahoo (Tab A, No. 10) – Dr. McGovern / Mr. Helies

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports 
      • 9:30 am – 9:45 am:  Administrative/Budget (Tab G) – Gen. Spraggins
      • 9.45 am – 10:10 am:  Data Collection (Tab F) – Ms. Boggs
      • 10:10 am – 10:30 am:  Sustainable Fisheriers (Tab E) – Dr. Sweetman

All times listed are CDT

• • • Committee Reports – continued 
      • 10:45 am – 11:00 am:  Closed Session Report (Tab T) – Mr. Anson
      • 11:00 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. Geeslin
      • 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm:   Migratory Species (Tab M) – Dr. Banks

All times listed are CDT

• • • 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm:  Supporting Agencies Update (Tab R) – Mr. Anson
      • • South Atlantic Council Liaison (Tab R, No. 1) – Mr. Griner
        • NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Report (Tab R, No. 2a) and Presentation (Tab R, No. 2b) – EO Salinas
        • Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (Tab R, No. 3) – Mr. Donaldson
        • U.S. Coast Guard (Tab R, No. 4) – 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. 5) – Dr. Simmons / Mr. Anson
    • 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm:  Other Business (Tab U) – Mr. Anson
      • Litigation Update – Ms. Levy
      • Discussion of Briefing Book Deadlines – Mr. Gill / Mr. Anson / Dr. Simmons