Notice2026-04699

Gulf Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
March 10, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract

The Gulf Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3- day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of America fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11513-11514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04699]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XF593]


Gulf 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.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3-
day meeting to consider actions affecting the Gulf of America fisheries 
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will convene Tuesday, April 7 through Thursday, 
April 9, 2026. Daily schedule: Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 
5 p.m., CDT and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Renaissance Battle House 
Hotel, located 26 N Royal Street, Mobile, AL 36602. If you prefer to 
``listen in,'' you may access the log-on information by visiting our 
website at <a href="http://www.gulfcouncil.org">www.gulfcouncil.org</a>.
    Council address: Gulf 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 Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Tuesday, April 7, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in CLOSED SESSION of the Full Council to 
discuss preliminary selection of Coastal Migratory Pelagics and Red 
Drum Advisory Panel Members and selection of 2025 Law Enforcement 
Officer/Team of the Year.
    Approximately 9:45 a.m. Committee Sessions will begin with Shrimp 
Committee review of SEDAR 87 Gulf Penaeid Shrimp Stock Assessments and

[[Page 11514]]

Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Recommendations, Texas 
Closure and remaining items from the Summary of the March 2026 Shrimp 
Advisory Panel Meeting. The committee will receive updates on the 
working group for Shrimp Bycatch Methodology for Finfish Species and 
for the Early Adopter Program.
    Following lunch, Migratory Species Committee will receive a Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Presentation on Proposed Rule on Commercial and 
Recreational Shark Management Measures and review of Gulf Council Draft 
Comment Letter on HMS Proposed Rule. The Data Collection Committee will 
receive a presentation on Exploring Alternative Methods for Estimating 
Recreational Landings for Rarely Encountered Species. The Gulf SEDAR 
Committee will review the Marine Recreational Information Program 
(MRIP) Update on Fishing Effort Survey (FES) pilot results and SSC 
Recommendations followed by the SEDAR Steering Committee Assessment 
Schedule updates and any other SEDAR Steering Committee Meeting 
Outcomes.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin with a Litigation update followed by the 
Reef Fish Committee receiving presentations on 2025 Gulf State Private 
Recreational Red Snapper and Greater Amberjack Landings Updates. The 
Committee will review Final Action Item--Abbreviated Framework Action: 
Modification of Gulf Lane Snapper Catch Limits, Public Hearing Draft: 
Reef Fish Amendment 63: Modifications to Gulf Red Grouper IFQ Program, 
and Final Action Item--Abbreviated Framework Action: Red Grouper IFQ 
Set Aside Quota Holdback. The Committee will then review Draft Options: 
Modifications to Red Snapper Private Recreational Accountability 
Measures and receive a presentation for Delegate Federal For-Hire Red 
Snapper Management to Gulf States, remaining February 2026 SSC Items 
Summary, and discuss the 2026 Gag Grouper and Greater Amberjack 
Recreational Fishing Seasons and the 2026 Federal For-hire Red Snapper 
Fishing Season.

Thursday, April 9, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    The Council will reconvene at 8:30 a.m., CDT with a Call to Order, 
Announcements and Introductions, Adoption of Agenda and Approval of 
Minutes. The Council will hold public testimony beginning at 8:40 a.m.-
12 p.m. for public comment on Final Action Items--Abbreviated Framework 
Action: Modification of Gulf Lane Snapper Catch Limits and Abbreviated 
Framework Action: Red Grouper IFQ Set Aside Quota Holdback, any Open 
Testimony on other Fishery Issues or Concerns.
    The Council will receive Committee Reports from the following 
committees: Shrimp, Migratory Species, Data Collection and Gulf SEDAR. 
The Council will announce the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer/Team of the 
Year recipient(s); and committee report from the Reef Fish Committee.
    The Council will receive updates from Supporting Agencies: South 
Atlantic Council Liaison, Alabama Law Enforcement Efforts, NOAA Office 
of Law Enforcement (OLE) Report and Presentation, Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
and Department of State.
    Lastly, the Council will receive an update on documents transmitted 
for Rule Making, 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 <a href="http://www.gulfcouncil.org">www.gulfcouncil.org</a> 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: March 6, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-04699 Filed 3-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 10, 2026.

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