Gulf Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

Issuing agencies

Abstract

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

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64889-64890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20862]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XG093]


Gulf Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a hybrid meeting.

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

DATES: The meeting will be held Tuesday, October 27, through Thursday, 
October 29, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., (CDT), each day.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Tremont House Hotel, 2300 
Ships Mechanic Row, Galveston, TX 77550; telephone: (409) 763-0300. 
Members of the public who wish to listen virtually may access login 
information 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, October 27, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin in Full Council with a review and adoption 
of the proposed Council Committee

[[Page 64890]]

assignments for October 2026 through August 2027, as well as the 
current Council Committee assignments. NMFS will provide a brief 
overview of the Executive Order: Restoring American Saltwater Angling 
and Recreation.
    The Reef Fish Committee will then receive updates on Reef Fish 
Landings and review and discuss final action items for Reef Fish 
Amendment 55/Snapper Grouper Amendment 44: Mutton Snapper and 
Yellowtail Snapper Management Measures, modifications to Red Snapper 
Private Recreational Post-Season Accountability Measures, and draft 
options for management flexibility for the Federal For-hire component 
of the Red Snapper fishery.
    Following lunch, the Reef Fish Committee will review the September 
2026 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting summary and 
recommendations; consider Draft for Reef Fish Amendment 59A: Permit 
Requirements in Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Programs; receive a 
presentation on Greater Amberjack Count; review draft Reef Fish 65--
Regional Management of Recreational Greater Amberjack; and discuss 
Exempted Fishing Permits, if any.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    The meeting will begin with a litigation update, followed by the 
Shrimp Committee's review of draft membership list for the Review Panel 
for the Shrimp Permit Pool, Draft Shrimp Amendment 20--Status 
Determination Criteria for the Penaeid Shrimp, and recommendations from 
the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP). The committee will discuss the 2024 
Shrimp Effort in Relation to Threshold for Juvenile Red Snapper, Status 
Update on Working Group to Address Interactions and Bycatch of 
Protected Resources in Shrimp Trawl and any remaining items from the 
Shrimp Advisory AP meeting summary.
    The Data Collection Committee will review and discuss the results 
of the Marine Recreational Information Program-Fishing Effort Survey 
Pilot Study, SSC Recommendations, and next steps. The committee will 
also receive an overview of the Mississippi and Alabama Creel Surveys 
and related SSC recommendations.
    The Law Enforcement Committee will provide a summary report from 
the October Law Enforcement Technical Committee.
    Following lunch, the Council will reconvene in Full Council for the 
Call to Order, announcements and introductions, adoption of the agenda, 
and approval of minutes. The Council will receive public testimony 
beginning at 1:40 p.m.-4:30 p.m., CDT for public comment on Final 
Action Items--Reef Fish Amendment 55/Snapper Grouper Amendment 44: 
Mutton Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper Management Measures and 
Modifications to Red Snapper Private Recreational Post-Season 
Accountability Measures, Exempted Fishing Permits; and any Open 
Testimony on other Fishery Issues or Concerns.
    The Council will then receive committee reports from the Law 
Enforcement and Data Collection Committees.

Thursday, October 29, 2026; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., CDT

    Meeting will return to Committee Sessions starting with the 
Sustainable Fisheries Committee will give an overview of the Southeast 
Fisheries Observer Program, followed by a presentation on Regulatory 
Streamlining and SSC Recommendations, SSC Report from September 2026 
meeting, including Spawning Habitat and Early-Life Linkages to 
Fisheries (SHELF) Egg Project and Social Sciences Gulf Species 
Questionnaire.
    The Migratory Species Committee will provide presentations on Shark 
Depredation and updates on Highly Migratory Species documents.
    Following lunch, the Council will return to Full Council and 
receive committee reports from Reef Fish, Shrimp, Sustainable Fisheries 
and Migratory Species Committees.
    The Council will then receive updates from supporting agencies, 
including the South Atlantic Council Liaison, Texas Law Enforcement, 
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Gulf States Marine Fisheries 
Commission, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the 
Department of State.
    Finally, the Council will receive an update on documents 
transmitted for rulemaking, discuss Council planning and primary 
activities, and consider any other business including an update from 
NMFS on Advancing Agency-Level Reforms to Restore American Seafood 
Competitiveness.

--Meeting Adjourns

    This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format, with both in-
person and virtual participation options available. Members of the 
public may register to listen to the meeting via webinar by visiting 
<a href="http://www.gulfcouncil.org">www.gulfcouncil.org</a> and selecting the Council meeting from the 
calendar.
    The timing and order of agenda items are subject to change to 
accommodate the needs of the Council. The most current agenda and 
meeting materials will be posted on the Council's website as they 
become available.
    Although non-emergency issues not included in this notice may come 
before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not 
be the subject of formal Council action. Formal action will be limited 
to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication that require emergency action under Section 
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided 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 aids or accommodations should be directed to Kathy Pereira at 
(813) 348-1630 at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 8, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-20862 Filed 10-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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