[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67247-67248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21456]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD413]


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 hybrid meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf 
of Mexico fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will convene Monday, October 23 through Thursday, 
October 26, 2023. Schedule as follows: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 
8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursday at 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m., CDT.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at Embassy Suites by Hilton, 
located at 16006 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32413.
    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, October 23, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in Full Council with review and adoption of 
Proposed Council Committee Assignments for October 2023 through August 
2024 and current Council Committee Assignments.
    Committee Sessions will follow beginning with the Data Collection 
Committee reviewing Final Action item: Comprehensive Amendment 
Addressing Electronic Reporting for Commercial Vessels, Development of 
Gulf For-Hire Data Collection Program, Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) Discussions on Recreational Marine Recreational 
Information Program-Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES) Pilot Study and 
Next Steps and on MRIP-FES Inventory for the Gulf of Mexico. The 
Committee will review the summary report from the Technical 
Coordinating Committee Deliberations at the Gulf States Marie Fisheries 
Commission (GSMFC) meeting.
    There will be an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Information 
Presentation from NOAA during lunch.
    Following lunch, the Shrimp Committee will convene and review the 
Results of Side-by-Side Testing of Cellular Vessel Monitoring Systems 
(cVMS) and Cellular Electronic Logbooks (cELBs) on Gulf Shrimp Vessels 
and any remaining items from the meeting summary for the October 2023 
Shrimp Advisory Panel meeting.
    The Reef Fish Committee will convene and discuss the SSC Reviews 
for 2023 Gulf Vermilion Snapper Interim Analysis and Gulf Lane Snapper 
Catch Analysis.
    The Full Council will reconvene in a CLOSED SESSION for selection 
of Ad Hoc Charter For-hire Data Collection Advisory Panel Members.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Reef Fish Committee will reconvene to review IFQ Program Goals 
and Objectives, Final Action item: Modifications to Recreational and 
Commercial Greater Amberjack Management Measures, Draft: Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 44/Reef Fish Amendment 55: Catch Level Adjustments 
and Allocations for Southeastern U.S. Yellowtail Snapper. The Committee 
will review SSC Discussions on Recent Gag Grouper Research and 
Implications for Management, 2023 Gulf Gag Grouper Health Check Status, 
Draft Options: Gag and Black Grouper Management Measures and Reef Fish 
and IFQ Program Landings, and State Program Landings for Red Snapper.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023; 8 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The Ecosystem Committee will review and discuss the Summary Report 
from the September 2023 Ecosystem Technical Committee meeting.

[[Page 67248]]

    The Administrative/Budget Committee will discuss Draft Activities 
for Proposed Use of Administrative Award Carryover Funds and 
Information on Inflation Reduction Act Funding for the Regional 
Management Councils and Proposed Activities.
    The Mackerel Committee will review the Coastal migratory Pelagics 
Landings and Draft Framework Amendment 14: Modifications to Gulf 
Spanish Mackerel Catch Limits.
    At approximately 11:15 a.m., CDT, the Council will reconvene with a 
Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Approval of Minutes. The Council will receive a presentation Update on 
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Wind Energy Development 
in the Gulf of Mexico and an update on NOAA Fisheries Efforts to 
Incorporate Feedback from Underserved Communities and other 
Stakeholders into a Southeast Equity and Environmental Justice 
Implementation Plan.
    The Council will hold public comment testimony from 2 p.m. to 5 
p.m., CDT for Final Action Items: Comprehensive Amendment Addressing 
Electronic Reporting for Commercial Vessels and Modifications to 
Recreational and Commercial Greater Amberjack Management Measures; 
including, open testimony on other fishery issues or concerns. Public 
comment may begin earlier than 2 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, October 23rd at 8 a.m., CDT and closes 
one hour before public testimony begins on Wednesday, October 25th at 1 
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, October 26, 2023; 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m., CDT

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Data Collection, 
Shrimp, Closed Session, Reef Fish, Ecosystem, Administrative/Budget, 
and Mackerel Management Committees. The Council will receive updates 
from the following supporting agencies: Florida 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.

--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. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3383291116212545537.
    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 meetings. 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: September 26, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21456 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
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