[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47124-47125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15448]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD177]


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, August 14 through Thursday, 
August 17, 2023. Times are: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 8 a.m. 
to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., CDT.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will take place at The Driskill Hotel, 
located at 604 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701.
    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, August 14, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in Full Council with the Induction of New 
Council Members. Committee Sessions will follow beginning with the 
Administrative/Budget Committee reviewing the 2021-22 Audit Report and 
Final 2023 Funded Budget and Activities Report. Information will be 
presented on the Inflation Reduction Act Funding for the Regional 
Management Councils.
    The Migratory Species Committee will give an update on Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species Management Measures; including, Proposed Rule: 
Amendment 15--Modifications of Four Commercial Longline Spatial 
Management Areas and Administrative Changes to Pelagic Longline 
Electronic Monitoring Program, Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
on Electronic Reporting and Scoping: Amendment 16--Revised Catch Limit 
for Shark Stocks, Modifications to Commercial and Recreational Shark 
Fisheries Management. The Data Collection Committee will receive an 
update on the Southeast For-Hire Integrated Reporting (SEFHIER) Program 
and next steps.
    Following lunch, the Sustainable Fisheries Committee will review 
Rice's Whale Critical Habitat Proposed Rule and Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations for Marine Recreational 
Information Program (MRIP) Cumulative Estimate Reporting; Technical 
Guidance for National Standard 1 Reference Points and Status 
Determinations and Evaluation of Interim Analysis Process. The 
committee will receive presentations on Allocation Reviews and, review 
Draft Letter on NOAA Fisheries Request for Comments on the Advance 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for National Standard Guidelines 4, 8 and 
9.
    The Full Council will meet in a CLOSED SESSION to receive a 
Litigation update.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Reef Fish Committee will hold a discussion on Gag and Black 
Grouper Management Alternatives and Shallow-water Grouper Complex 
Management. The Committee will review Draft Framework Action: 
Modifications to the Recreational and Commercial Greater Amberjack 
Management Measures, Draft: Snapper Grouper Amendment 44/Reef Fish 
Amendment 55: Catch Level Adjustments and Allocations for Southeast 
U.S. Yellowtail Snapper. The Committee will receive a status updates on 
Anticipated Endangered Species Act Proposed Rules and Section 7 
Consultations, Status and Timeline Updates for Revised Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Goals and Objectives and on the Recreational 
Initiative.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Mackerel Committee will review the SSC Recommendations for Gulf 
King Mackerel Interim Assessment and SEDAR 81: Gulf Spanish Mackerel 
Updated Stock Assessment. The Committee will review Proposed Engagement 
in Mackerel Port Meetings and Amendment to the 2015 Biological Opinion 
for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and 
Atlantic Region.
    The Shrimp Committee will discuss the Re-initiation of Endangered 
Species Action Section 7 Consultation on the Authorization of the 
Southeast U.S. Shrimp Fisheries in Federal Waters, Giant Manta Ray and 
Shrimp Trawl Interactions, and next steps; and, receive a status update 
of Side-by-Side Testing of Cellular Vessel Monitoring Systems (cVMS) 
and Cellular Electronic Logbooks (cELBs) on Gulf Shrimp Vessels.
    Approximately 11:20 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 a presentation Update on 
the

[[Page 47125]]

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development in 
the Gulf of Mexico.
    The Council will hold public comment testimony from 1:30 p.m. to 5 
p.m., CDT on 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, August 14th at 8 a.m., CDT and closes one hour before public 
testimony begins on Wednesday, August 16th at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Public 
testimony may end before the published agenda time if all registered 
in-person and virtual participants have completed their testimony.

Thursday, August 17, 2023; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., CDT

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Administrative/
Budget, Migratory Species, Data Collection, Sustainable Fisheries, Reef 
Fish, Mackerel and Shrimp Management Committees. The Council will 
receive updates from the following supporting agencies: Texas Law 
Enforcement Efforts; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; 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; any remaining 
updates on Litigation and hold an Election of Chair and Vice-Chair.

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: July 17, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-15448 Filed 7-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P