For its April meeting the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has announced to meet at the Galveston Island Convention Center, 5400 Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, Texas. On the first day there will a closed session and then the Committees will meet through 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, with the full Council convening at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday through Thursday morning.
The press communiqué of the Council states that the Budget Committee and the Administrative Policy Committee will meet Monday morning. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. the Reef Fish Management Committee will meet to review the SEDAR 19 Black Grouper Stock Assessment. There will be hearing of the reports from the Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committee, as well as the Reef Fish Limited Access Privilege Program Advisory Panel.
The Committee will extensively discuss paper for Reef Fish Amendment 32 for gag and red grouper, and a framework action for greater amberjack. The Data Collection Committee will convene at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to hear a report of the Data Collection Advisory Panel. The Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Management Committee will then meet to review an options paper for the Generic Amendment for Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures.
Besides, there are other issues on the agenda which can be obtained through its website. There will be informal Question and Answer Session on Gulf of Mexico fishery management issues. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Council and Committees for discussion, in accordance with the M-SFCMA, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings.
