[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43335-43336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19644]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0649-XF688


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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

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 be held on Monday, October 2 through Thursday, 
October 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Beau Rivage Resort, 
located at 875 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530; telephone: (228) 386-
7111.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Gregory, Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 43336]]

Agenda

Monday, October 2, 2017; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The Gulf SEDAR Management Committee will review the SEDAR Steering 
Committee Summary and the SEDAR schedule. The Spiny Lobster Management 
Committee will review a draft Options Paper of Spiny Lobster Amendment 
13. The Joint Coral/Habitat Protection & Restoration Management 
Committee will review a summary of the Southeast Deep-Sea Coral 
Initiative and review a Public Hearing draft of Coral Amendment 9. The 
Sustainable Fisheries Management Committee will review Options Paper--
Draft Modifications to the Sea Turtle Release Protocol and Gear for the 
Reef Fish Fishery and review Options Paper--Framework Action to Require 
either Descending Devices or Venting Tools on board Vessels Possessing 
Reef Fish. The Committee will have a discussion on Dead Zone Regarding 
the RESTORE Act Activities and receive a presentation on Proposed 
Lionfish Gear and Modification to the List of Allowable Gears. At 4:15 
p.m. a CLOSED SESSION of the Full Council will convene to discuss 
appointments to the Ad Hoc Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish Advisory 
Panel.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

    The Reef Fish Management Committee will take final action on 
Framework Action--Greater Amberjack Fishing Year and Recreational 
Closed Season. The Committee will review draft Amendment 41--
Allocation-based Management for Federally Permitted Charter Vessels and 
Final Action on Referendum Eligibility Requirements; review draft 
Amendment 42--Reef Fish Management for Headboat Survey Vessels and 
Final Action Referendum Eligibility Requirements; and, review draft 
papers for State Management of Recreational Red Snapper. The Committee 
will discuss the joint SAFMC/GMFMC Management of Yellowtail Snapper. 
The Reef Fish Management Committee will receive NMFS response regarding 
referendum requirements for auctions; and discuss for-hire Reef Fish 
Permit transfers. The Committee will review Grouper-Tilefish IFQ 
Program 5-Year Review Surveys.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

    The Full Council will convene with Call to Order, Announcements, 
and Introductions; Adoption of Agenda and Approval of Minutes; 
Induction of New Council Members; Announcement of 2016 Law Enforcement 
Officer of the Year Award; and review of Exempted Fishing Permit (EFPs) 
Applications, if any. The Council will receive a presentation from 
Mississippi Law Enforcement and a presentation on Gulf of Mexico Annual 
Catch Limits Landings. After lunch the Council will receive public 
testimony from 12:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Agenda Testimony items: Final 
Action on Framework Action: Greater Amberjack Fishing Year and 
Recreational Closed Season, Final Action on Referendum Eligibility 
Requirements for Reef Fish Amendment 41, Final Action on Referendum 
Eligibility Requirements for Reef Fish Amendment 42; and, hold an open 
public testimony period regarding any other fishery issues or concern. 
Anyone wishing to speak during public comment should sign in at the 
registration station located at the entrance to the meeting room.

Thursday, October 5, 2017; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Full Council will receive committee reports from Gulf SEDAR, Spiny 
Lobster, Sustainable Fisheries, Joint Coral/Habitat Protection & 
Restoration Management Committees, and Reef Fish; and, vote on Exempted 
Fishing Permit (EFP) applications, if any. The Council will receive 
updates from the following supporting agencies: South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission; U.S. Coast 
Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and, the Department of State. 
The Council will conduct the election of Chair and Vice-Chair.
    Lastly, the Council will discuss any Other Business items.

Meeting Adjourns

    The timing and order in which agenda items are addressed may change 
as required to effectively address the issue. The latest version will 
be posted on the Council's file server, which can be accessed by going 
to the Council's Web site at http://www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on 
FTP Server under Quick Links. For meeting materials, go to the Gulf 
Council Web site or Gulf Council file server and select the ``Briefing 
Books/Briefing Book 2017-10'' folder. The username and password are 
both ``gulfguest''. The meetings will be webcast over the internet. A 
link to the webcast is available here, https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7940774515962140419.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council action 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

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kathy Pereira (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: September 12, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-19644 Filed 9-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P