The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold meetings of the Shrimp and Ad Hoc Artificial Substrate Advisory Panels. The meetings are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 through 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014, and will be held at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel, located at 333 - 1st Street, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Items up for discussion include:
Shrimp Advisory Panel, Wednesday, March 5, 2014, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Adoption of agenda
Approval of minutes from May 23, 2013 meeting
Plan of work
Review of new stock assessments for brown, white, and pink shrimp
Biological review of the Texas closure
Review draft options for shrimp Amendment 15 status determination criteria for penaeid shrimp and adjustments to the shrimp FMP framework procedure
Discussion of ACL adjustment and accountability measures for royal red shrimp
Kemp's Ridley stock assessment results and discussion
Update on the status of the new shrimp ELP monitoring program
Other business
Joint Shrimp and Ad Hoc Artificial Substrate Advisory Panels, Thursday, March 6, 2014, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Consideration of new chair election for Ad Hoc Artificial Substrate AP
Adoption of agenda
Approval of minutes from February 28, 2013 Ad Hoc Artificial Substrate AP Meeting
Plan of work: Council charge- discussion of issues, impacts, and concerns associated with artificial reef siting criteria
a. Shrimp effort
b. Artificial reefs sites (past and present)
c. Bottom type
d. Depth
e. Other criteria
Rigs to reefs
Habitat limitations of age 2 red snapper and their association with petroleum platforms
Other business
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency.
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the Council Office at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.
About Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
Submit comments and stay updated on fishery issues:
Check it out! Go to www.gulfcouncil.org and click on the thermometer in the middle of the page. From there you can read up on all the pending actions, watch the video presentations, read comments, and submit your own. All comments submitted through the online form are automatically posted on our web site for Council review. Other comments are manually posted every couple of days.
There is also a thermometer for each issue that lets you know where the Council is in the process for that particular amendment, whether its the scoping phase, final action, or implementation.
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