Update: Due to continuing concerns as related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), the March 30 – April 2 meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has been cancelled.
As of now, we plan to hold the June Council meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida as originally scheduled. Nevertheless, we are carefully monitoring the situation and developing contingency plans for future Council meetings should expanded outbreaks occur, including the potential for virtual meetings conducted remotely.
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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet March 30 – April 2, 2020 at The Lodge in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Council will preliminarily select members to serve on its Red Drum and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Advisory Panels. After clearing a background check for fisheries violations, Advisory Panel members will be appointed and notified in June. The Council will also select a Law Enforcement Officer or Team of the Year for service in 2019.
Additionally, the Council plans to discuss a variety of issues including: 1) the schedule for future stock assessments; 2) recommendations from its Ecosystems Technical Committee; 3) status determination criteria for reef fish and red drum, 4) fishing access in Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps; 5) allocation; 6) modifications to the commercial individual fishing quota programs; 7) red grouper catch limits and sector allocations; 8) lane snapper annual catch limit; 9) shrimp stock assessments and Advisory Panel recommendations. Finally, the Council will hear presentations on Deepwater Horizon Open Ocean Fish Restoration; marine mammal depredation; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and Alabama law enforcement efforts.
Visit our “Amendments Under Development” webpage to learn more and submit online comments.
The meeting will convene on the following days and local times:
8:00 – 5:30 Monday, March 30, 2020
Closed Full Council Session
Gulf SEDAR Committee
Ecosystem Committee
Sustainable Fisheries Committee
* Immediately following Committee sessions, NOAA Fisheries will host an informal question and answer session.
Gulf SEDAR Committee
Ecosystem Committee
Sustainable Fisheries Committee
* Immediately following Committee sessions, NOAA Fisheries will host an informal question and answer session.
8:30 – 5:30 Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Law Enforcement Committee
Reef Fish Committee
Reef Fish Committee
8:30 – 5:30 Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Shrimp Committee
Habitat Protection and Restoration Committee
Full Council
Public Comment (1:45 – 5:30 PM)
Habitat Protection and Restoration Committee
Full Council
Public Comment (1:45 – 5:30 PM)
8:30 – 4:00 Thursday, April 2, 2020
Full Council Committee Reports
The Committee and Council Agendas and meeting materials are posted on the Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org. Meeting materials will be posted as they become available.
Council meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live over the internet. Register for the webinar