Meeting of Gulf Council’s Standing and Special Reef Fish Science and Statistical Committee will be held on March 23-24, 2010 at the Gulf Council Office, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Tampa, Florida. In its press release the Gulf Council said that in the meeting attempt will be to broadcast it over the Internet. It is said that meeting will discuss the completion of the development of a set of control rules to set acceptable biological catch for data adequate and data-poor stocks and stock assemblages.
It is said that the Committee may also select a set of stocks or stock assemblages to use as case studies for applying the control rules. Finally, the Committee will discuss what scientific advice can be given to the Council regarding whether and where to set a minimum stock threshold – a threshold below which harvest is prohibited.
On the other day of the meeting the Committee is said to meet jointly with the Special Reef Fish Committee to review the SDEAR 19 black grouper stock assessment and to recommend a level of acceptable biological catch. The Committees will also review a request from the Gulf Council to provide advice on the best approach for collecting fishery independent data that can be used in the next red snapper assessment.
There are other issues that may be discussing in the meeting. But those should be in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting.
