[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37631-37632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13483]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA234]


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.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a two-
day workshop via webinar of its

[[Page 37632]]

Standing, Reef Fish, Mackerel, Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Scientific 
and Statistical Committees (SSC) reviewing the Marine Recreational 
Information Program--Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES).

DATES: The workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 and 
Thursday, July 9, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EDT daily.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will take place via webinar; you may register 
by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on the SSC meeting on the 
calendar.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 4107 W 
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Rindone, Lead Fishery Biologist, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; 
[email protected], telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Wednesday, July 8, 2020; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The workshop will begin with Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Scope of Work. The Committees will receive presentations and questions 
on the FES from the National Marine Fisheries Science Center (NMFS). 
Presentations will include a Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) 
versus FES Primer--differences in effort survey designs, MRIP catch and 
effort estimation, characterization of CHTS biases, characterization of 
FES biases, QA/QC Process; Calibration Process--FES Calibration Model 
and Methods, comparison of effort calibrations to historical regional 
population estimates, fishing license numbers, and/or other 
quantifiable censoring datasets, impacts of calibrations on regional 
estimates of fishing effort; Post-processing of MRIP estimates--weight 
estimation procedures, description of MRIP weight estimation method, 
description of Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) weight 
estimation method and MRIP vs. SEFSC plots of Gulf king mackerel and 
gray snapper weight estimates, CHTS to For-Hire Survey (FHS) 
calibration method and CHTS vs FHS plots for charter estimates of 
specified Gulf species (Gulf king mackerel and gray snapper). The 
Committees will also review Operationalizing FES Data--FES estimates as 
used for quota monitoring and management, data availability and 
certification, effects of calibration on fishing season duration 
projections, calibration of historical landings data and effects on 
sector allocations, and the effects on IFQ programs.

Thursday, July 9, 2020; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The Committees will review case studies on Gulf of Mexico Migratory 
Group King Mackerel and Gray Snapper; comparison of landings, effort, 
and discards, pre- and post-FES, treatment of shore mode landings, 
effort and discards, treatment of outlier/abnormal data points, shifts 
in projected catch recommendations, pre- and post-FES and the effects 
of FES calibration of estimated discards.
    The Committees will make recommendations to the Council based on 
the information presented during the workshop, as appropriate.
    Lastly, the Committees will discuss any other business items.
--Meeting Adjourns
    The meeting will be broadcast via webinar. You may register for the 
webinar by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on the SSC meeting 
on the calendar.
    Time will be afforded following each major Agenda item for a brief 
question and answer session, during which members of the public may ask 
questions of the presenters and the Committees.
    The Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version along with 
other meeting materials will be posted on www.gulfcouncil.org as they 
become available.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the Scientific and Statistical Committees for discussion, in 
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during this meeting. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical 
Committee will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in 
the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that 
require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been 
notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the 
emergency.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 18, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13483 Filed 6-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P