Meeting Notice
September 14, 2023
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will host a one-day meeting of its Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP). The meeting will convene on October 2, 2023, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, EDT. The meeting will be held at the Council Office located at 4107 West Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida 33607.
The Reef Fish Advisory Panel will address the following:
Marine Recreational Information Program Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES) Pilot Study
The AP will receive an update on a pilot study that recently found that the program could be overestimating private recreational effort. The AP will also hear proposed next steps.
Gag Grouper
The AP will be presented with a summary of the gag research review and review the Gag Interim Analysis. The AP will then discuss the Reef Fish Framework Action which considers modifying gag and black grouper recreational retention limits and commercial spawning season closures, along with recommendations from the Council’s Scientific and Statical Committee (SSC).
Vermilion and Lane Snapper
The AP will review interim analyses for both vermilion snapper and lane snapper, along with recommendations from the Council’s SSC.
Yellowtail Snapper
The AP will review South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 / Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Amendment 55: Catch Level Adjustment and Allocations for Southeastern U.S. Yellowtail Snapper which considers updating yellowtail snapper catch limits based on the SEDAR 64 Interim Analysis, including the jurisdictional apportionment between the Gulf and South Atlantic Councils.
Public comment will be held in-person and over the webinar before the meeting adjourns.
An agenda and meeting materials will be posted on our Advisory Panel Meetings webpage when they are available.
Register for the webinar here.