[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83669-83670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23935]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE376]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, November 4 through Thursday, 
November 7, 2024. Daily schedule will be 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EST.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Hilton St. Petersburg 
Bayfront Hotel, located at 333-1st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701. If you prefer to ``listen in'', you may access the log-in 
information by visiting our website at https://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, November 4, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EST

    The meeting will begin in Full Council with review and adoption of 
Proposed Council Committee Assignments for November 2024 through August 
2025 and Current Council Committee Assignments.
    Committee Sessions will follow beginning with the Habitat 
Protection & Restoration Committee's review of the Final Essential Fish 
Habitat Contract Report. The Law Enforcement Committee will convene to 
receive a report from the October 2024 Law Enforcement Technical 
Committee meeting.
    Sustainable Fisheries Committee will gather to discuss Research and 
Monitoring Priorities for 2025-2028 including Scientific and 
Statistical Committees (SSC) Recommendations, review and discuss SSC 
Recommendations for the following items: Southeast Data, Assessment, 
and Review (SEDAR) Process Changes and Assessment Approaches; 
Consideration of Carryover and Phase-in for Gulf Stocks in Proposed 
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule Management Strategy 
Evaluation (MSE) Simulations; and receive a presentation for 
Consideration of Wahoo for Federal Management.
    Following lunch, the Shrimp Committee will review Draft Shrimp 
Framework Action: Modification of the Vessel Position Data Collection 
Program for the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery and presentation.
    The Reef Fish Committee will review the Reef Fish and Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Landings, and State Program Landings for 
Red Snapper.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., EST

    The Council will receive a Litigation update. Following, the Reef 
Fish Committee will reconvene to review and discuss Draft Options: Reef 
Fish Amendment 58B: Modifications to Deep-water Grouper Management 
Measures, Presentation: Modifications to Lane Snapper Minimum Size and 
Recreational Bag Limits and Draft Options: Reef Fish Amendment 58A: 
Modifications to Shallow-water Grouper Management Measures and receive 
a presentation for Reef Fish Amendment 60: Individual Fishing Quota 
Distributional Issues.
    The Committee will also review draft options for Federal For-hire 
Fishing Season for Red Snapper, receive the SSC Summary Report for 
SEDAR 88 Stock Assessment for Gulf Red Grouper, Recreational Red 
Snapper Texas Calibration Simulation and Southeastern U.S. Black 
Grouper Management Strategy. The Committee will discuss updated NMFS 
Bottom Longline Index for Gulf Red Snapper and Request for an update on 
the Greater Amberjack Count.

[[Page 83670]]

Wednesday, November 6, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EST

    The Data Collection Committee will receive a presentation on Highly 
Migratory Species Proposed rule, discuss For-hire Data Collection 
Amendment, review Southeast Region Headboat Survey Report, and receive 
updates on Marine Resources Information Program (MRIP) Transition and 
Pilot Project.
    The Council will reconvene at approximately 11 a.m., EST with a 
Call to Order, Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and 
Approval of Minutes.
    The Council will present the 2023 Law Enforcement Team of the Year 
Award and receive presentation updates for the National Seafood 
Strategy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Wind Energy 
Development in Gulf of Mexico and Exempted Fishing Permit from Texas 
SeaGrant. Following lunch, the Council will hold public testimony 
beginning at 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m., EST for comments for open testimony 
on other fishery issues or concerns. Public comment may begin earlier 
than 1:45 p.m. EST 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 during the 
Council meeting. Registration for virtual testimony closes one hour 
(12:45 p.m. EST) before public testimony begins.

Thursday, November 7, 2024; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., EST

    The Council will receive Committee reports from Habitat Protection 
& Restoration, Law Enforcement, Sustainable Fisheries, Shrimp, Data 
Collection, and Reef Fish Committees and discuss Council recommendation 
on Exempted Fishing Permit. The Council will receive updates from the 
following supporting agencies: South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council Liaison; Florida 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.
    Lastly, the Council will hold a discussion on Council Planning and 
Primary Activities, and 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 https://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: October 11, 2024.
Alyssa Weigers,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-23935 Filed 10-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P