For Immediate Release
November 15, 2022
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a two-day, in-person meeting of its Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Focus Group. The meeting will convene from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST on November 30, 2022, and from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST on December 1, 2022. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Gulf Council’s Office located at 4107 West Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33607.
The IFQ Focus Group is tasked with reviewing the current IFQ programs’ goals and objectives, and to recommend their replacement and/or retention. The focus group is also expected to define the changes needed to improve the Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish IFQ programs to specifically address minimizing discards, fairness and equity, and new entrants issues. The group will also evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of getting increases in annual allocation, and allocation held by NOAA Fisheries from the non-active accounts, to active fishermen who do not own shares.
Public comment will be taken at the end of the second meeting day, as time allows.
For meeting agenda and materials, click here.
Register to listen via webinar, here.