[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60882-60883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16565]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE140]


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 19 through Thursday, 
August 22, 2024. Daily schedule will be as follows: Monday, Wednesday, 
and Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., CDT. On Tuesday, August 20, the 
daily schedule will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m., CDT.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will take place at the Golden Nugget 
Hotel and Casino, located at 151 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530.
    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, August 19, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in Full Council with the Induction of new 
and re-appointed Council Members. Committee Sessions will follow 
beginning with the Administrative/Budget Committee review and approval 
of the Final 2024 Funded Budget, review of Proposed Activities and 
Budget for 2025-2028 Funding Request and Status Update on Inflation 
Reduction Act Funding for the Regional Management Councils.
    The Ecosystem Committee will receive a presentation on 
Modifications to the 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Road Map (EBFM) and Ecosystem 
Technical Committee Recommendations and Comments. They will review 
Draft Comment Letter on Modifications to the 2024 EBFM and receive SSC 
Recommendations and Feedback on Essential Fish Habitat Contract Work.
    The Sustainable Fisheries Committee will review the Research and 
Monitoring Priorities for 2025-2028 and Acceptable Biological Catch 
(ABC) Control Rule, including Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC) Recommendations.
    The Data Collection Committee will receive a presentation on Effort 
Validation Options in the New For-hire Data Collection Program and hold 
a discussion For-hire Data Collection Program.
    The Shrimp Committee will review the Expenditures of the FY23 Funds 
for the Early Adopter Program for Shrimp Cellular Vessel Monitoring 
System (cVMS) and receive an update on the Early Adopter Program for 
Shrimp cVMS. The committee will receive an update on Shrimp Futures 
Project, recap of Southeast Shrimp Strategy and Planning Meeting and an 
update on Timing of Re-initiation of Section 7 Consultation.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin with a Litigation update. The Reef Fish 
Committee will convene to discuss Draft Options: Reef Fish Amendment 
58: Management Measures for Shallow and Deepwater Grouper Complexes, 
Vision Statement for the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs, Reef 
Fish Amendment 59: Requirements for Participation in Individual Fishing 
Quota Programs, Framework Action to Adjust Charter For-hire Buffer and 
Fishing Season for Red Snapper and the SSC Summary Report on 
recommendations and feedback on Recreational Seasonal Harvest 
Restrictions on Gag in the Gulf and Gulf Gray Triggerfish Ageing 
Contract Work.
    The Full Council will reconvene in a CLOSED SESSION for selection 
of Special Shrimp Scientific and Statistical Committee Members for 
2024-2027 Term and Appointment of Working Group Membership for the 
Recreational Initiative.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Gulf SEDAR Committee will review SEDAR Assessment Process 
Changes and Model Complexity with SSC Recommendations. The committee 
will receive the SEDAR Steering Committee Summary Report from the July 
2024 meeting and SSC Recommendations and Feedback on Management 
Strategy Evaluations Overview and RESTORE Project Update on Stock 
Assessment Projections.
    The Council will reconvene at approximately 10:15 a.m., CDT with a 
Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Approval of Minutes.
    The Council will receive presentations on Project Introduction and 
Review of Renewable Wind Energy (RWE) Fisheries Communications Plan, 
Update from Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy 
Development in the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi Law Enforcement 
Efforts. Following lunch, the Council will hold public testimony 
beginning at 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., CDT for comments on Renewable Wind 
Energy Communications Plan from RWE and Status of the Coastal Migratory 
Pelagics Fisheries; 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 on the 
Council website on the day of public testimony. Registration for 
virtual testimony closes one hour (12:30 p.m. CDT) before public 
testimony begins.

Thursday, August 22, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Administrative/
Budget, Ecosystem, Data Collection, Shrimp, Sustainable Fisheries, 
Closed Session, Gulf SEDAR and Reef Fish Committees. The Council will 
receive updates from the following supporting agencies: South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council Liaison; 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.
    Lastly, the Council will hold a discussion on Council Planning and 
Primary Activities, Other Business, 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,

[[Page 60883]]

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 23, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-16565 Filed 7-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P