[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14984-14985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04944]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XC832]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of hybrid meeting open to the public offering both in-
person and virtual options for participation.

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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 convene Monday, April 3 through Thursday, April 
6, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., CDT.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will take place at the 
Courtyard Marriott Gulfport Beachfront hotel, located at 1600 East 
Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, MS 39501.
    Please note, in-person meeting attendees will be expected to follow 
any current safety protocols as determined by the Council, hotel and 
the City of Gulfport, if any. Such precautions may include masks, room 
capacity restrictions, and/or social distancing. If you prefer to 
``listen in'', you may access the log-on information by visiting our 
website at www.gulfcouncil.org.
    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: Dr. Carrie Simmons, Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Monday, April 3, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in a CLOSED SESSION of the FULL COUNCIL to 
review and select Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Advisory Panel (AP) 
members, 2022 Law Enforcement Officer/Team of the Year, and consider 
the replacement of a member for the Standing Scientific and Statistical 
Committee. At approximately 9 a.m. the meeting will open to the public 
with the Mackerel Committee reviewing the CMP Landings, Final Action: 
Draft Framework Amendment 12: Modifications to the Gulf of Mexico 
Migratory Group King Mackerel Gillnet Fishing Season and 
recommendations from the CMP AP December 2022 meeting.
    The Data Collection Committee will receive an update on Southeast 
For-Hire Integrated Reporting (SEFHIER) Program: Discussion on 5th 
Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling and Regulatory Next Steps, Modification 
to Commercial Coastal Logbook Reporting Requirements, discussion on 
Private Angler Licensing Requirements and the Feasibility of a Federal 
Private Angling Permit Initiatives for federal private recreational 
management and any remaining Data Collection AP Summary items from the 
February 13, 2023 meeting.
    Following lunch, the Shrimp Committee will convene to review and 
discuss the Biological Review of Texas Closure, Updates on NMFS VMS 
Pilot Project on Shrimp Vessels, Report on Expanded Sampling of the 
Fleet for Effort Monitoring in the Gulf Shrimp Fishery, and the Draft 
Shrimp Framework Action: Modification of the Vessel Position Data 
Collection Program for the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery. The Committee 
will receive an Update on Shrimp Effort Estimation Model and 2021 Gulf 
Shrimp Fishery Effort, Shrimp Advisory Panel Summary Reports, and 
Scientific and Statistical Committee Summary Report from the March 2023 
meetings.
    The Reef Fish Committee will convene and review Recent Reef Fish, 
For-hire, and Individual Fishing Quota Landings.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Reef Fish Committee will reconvene to review and discuss Public 
Hearing Draft for Amendment 56: Modifications to the Gag Grouper Catch 
Limits, Sector Allocations, and Fishing Seasons, Draft Framework: 
Modifications to Recreational and Commercial Greater Amberjack 
Management Measures, and Discussion of Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 
Objectives.
    Reef Fish Committee will review the SSC Summary Report and 
Recommendations from the March 2023 Meeting; Scamp and Yellowmouth 
Grouper Updated Catch Projections; Evaluating Bottom Fishing Seasonal 
Closures in the Recreational Fishery; Greater Amberjack Discard 
Mortality; Greater Amberjack Count Update; Evaluating Wenchman and Mid-
water Snapper Landings; and, Other Items from March 2023 SSC Meeting. 
The Committee will discuss and review Draft Options: Updating 
Recreational Red Snapper Calibration Ratios and Establishing Gray 
Snapper Catch Limits.
    Immediately following the Reef Fish Committee, National Marine 
Fisheries Service Staff will host a General Question and Answer 
Session.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Sustainable Fisheries Committee will receive a presentation on 
A Brief Introduction to how Management Strategy Evaluation can Address 
Some Key Challenges before the Council; receive an overview of 
Potential Options for Regulatory Streamlining; a presentation on 
Factors to Consider for the Inclusion of Species in Federal Management; 
and, a presentation SSC Report on Allocation Approaches.
    At approximately 11:15 a.m., CDT, the Council will convene with a 
Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Approval of Minutes. The Council will receive updates from the Bureau 
of Ocean Energy Management (BEOM) on Wind Energy Development in the 
Gulf of Mexico and NOAA Fisheries' Equity and Environmental Justice 
(EEJ) Strategy, Regional Implementation Process, and Schedule.
    The Council will hold public testimony from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., 
CDT on Final Action: Draft Framework Amendment 12: Modifications to the 
Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group King Mackerel Gillnet Fishing Season; 
and, open testimony on other fishery issues or concerns. Public comment 
may begin earlier than 1:30 p.m. CDT, but will not conclude before that 
time. Persons wishing to give public testimony in-person must register 
at the registration kiosk in the meeting room. Persons wishing to give 
public testimony virtually must sign up via the link on the Council 
website. Registration for virtual testimony is open at the start of the 
meeting, Monday, April 3rd at 8 a.m., CDT and closes one hour before 
public testimony begins on Wednesday, April 5th at 12:30 p.m., CDT.

Thursday, April 6, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Mackerel, Data 
Collection, Shrimp, Reef Fish, Sustainable Fisheries Management 
Committees as well as the

[[Page 14985]]

closed session report the Council will receive updates from the 
following supporting agencies: South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council; Mississippi Law Enforcement Efforts; NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE); Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; U.S. Coast 
Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Department of State.
    The Council will discuss any Other Business items; and, Litigation 
update.

--Meeting Adjourns

    The meeting will be a hybrid meeting; both in-person and virtual 
participation available. You may register for the webinar to listen-in 
only by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and click on the Council meeting 
on the calendar.
    The timing and order in which agenda items are addressed may change 
as required to effectively address the issue, and the latest version 
along with other meeting materials will be posted on the website as 
they become available.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this group for discussion, in accordance with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during these meeting. Actions 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

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aid or accommodations should be directed to Kathy Pereira, 
(813) 348-1630, at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 7, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04944 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
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