[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 56445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23461]



[[Page 56445]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE199


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a four-day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of 
Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and 
Thursday, October 5-8, 2015, starting at 8:30 a.m. daily.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Galveston Island 
Hotel, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77551; telephone: (409) 
744-5000; fax: (409) 740-2209.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Gregory, Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Agenda

Monday, October 5, 2015

    The Gulf Council will begin with updates and presentations from 
management committees. The Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Management 
Committee will review the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment--Management 
Strategy Evaluation, and receive a presentation on NOAA's Ecosystem 
Based Fisheries Management Policy. The Joint Administrative Policy & 
Budget/Personnel Management Committee will review the new Advisory 
Panels (AP) Staggered Terms, modifications to the standard operating 
practices and procedures (SOPPs) section discussing AP Appointments, 
Administrative Committee structure, and review of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act Reauthorization Bills. The Mackerel Management Committee will 
convene after lunch to review the Joint Public Hearing Draft for CMP 
Amendment 26: Changes in Allocations, Stock Boundaries and Sale 
Provisions for Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Migratory Groups of King 
Mackerel, and an Options Paper for CMP Amendment 28: Separating Permits 
for Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Migratory Groups of King Mackerel and 
Spanish Mackerel. The Data Collection Committee will then review the 
Public Hearing Draft--Joint Electronic Charter Vessel Reporting 
Amendment; and the Gulf SEDAR Committee will review the SEDAR Steering 
Committee meeting and SEDAR Assessment Schedule.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

    The Reef Fish Management Committee will provide updates from the 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Reef Fish Advisory Panel 
(AP) meetings. The committee will discuss final action on Framework 
Action to set Gag Recreational Season and Gag and Black Grouper Minimum 
Size Limits, review options papers for Amendment to Define Gulf of 
Mexico Hogfish Stock and set Acceptable Catch Limits (ACL) and Status 
Determination Criteria and Framework Action to set Mutton Snapper ACL 
and management measures, and the revised Public Hearing Draft Amendment 
39--Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper. The committee will 
also review options papers for Adjust Minimum Stock Size Threshold 
(MSST) and South Florida Management Issues; discussion on the Ad Hoc 
Private Recreational AP. NMFS will hold a Question and Answer session 
immediately following the committee.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

    The Reef Fish Management Committee will continue with any remaining 
agenda items from the previous day. Shrimp Management Committee will 
review the Public Hearing Draft for Shrimp Amendment 17A--Addressing 
the Expiration of the Shrimp Permit Moratorium and the Draft Options 
Paper for Shrimp Amendment 17B--Establishing Optimum Yield, Target 
Number of Permits, Permit Pool, and Addressing Transit Provisions 
through Federal Waters.
    The Full Council will convene mid-morning with a Call to Order, 
Announcements and Introductions; Adoption of Agenda and Approval of 
Minutes. The Council will review and approve the 2016 Committee 
Appointments. After lunch, the Council will receive presentations on 
the Southeast Observer Program and the Standardized Reporting Bycatch 
Methods; and review of Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) Applications, if 
any. The Council will receive Public Comment (2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.) on 
Final Action on Framework Action to Set Gag Recreational Season and Gag 
and Black Grouper Minimum Size Limits; followed by open testimony on 
any other fishery issues or concerns.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

    The Council will receive management committee reports from 
Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem, Administrative Policy & Budget/
Personnel, Mackerel, Data Collection, Shrimp and SEDAR. Upon returning 
from lunch, the Council will receive a committee report from the Reef 
Fish Management Committee; vote on Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 
Applications, if any, and discuss Other Business.

Meeting Adjourns

    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council action will 
be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and 
any issues arising after publication of this notice that require 
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kathy Pereira (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: September 15, 2015.
Jeffrey N. Lonergan,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23461 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P