The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a four-day webinar of its Standing, Reef Fish, and Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC). The meeting will be held March 30 – April 2, 2021.

Along with three external independent reviewers, the SSC will begin by hearing the results of the Great Red Snapper Count, a comprehensive study completed to estimate the absolute abundance of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Together, the SSC and independent reviewers will determine if the Great Red Snapper Count is an appropriate estimate of absolute abundance.

The SSC will then review a catch analysis which uses the estimate of absolute abundance from the Great Red Snapper Count. The SSC will also review a red snapper interim analysis with data from the NMFS Bottom Longline Survey which is used to produce an index of relative abundance. Both of these analyses will use age and length information from the most recent red snapper stock assessment (SEDAR 52) to inform future catch levels for red snapper.

The SSC will determine which of the analyses best represents the best scientific information available to characterize the current condition of the red snapper stock in the Gulf of Mexico. The SSC will then decide whether to update its recommendations for the overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch for red snapper. The Council will consider these recommendations and may modify annual catch limits at its April 12-15, 2021 Council meeting.

Public comment will be held over the webinar before the meeting adjourns.

For an agenda and meeting materials, click here.

Register for the webinar here.