The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled a meeting of its Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP) in conjunction with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's Law Enforcement Committee (LEC) March 18, 2014, from 1:30 pm until 5:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Law Enforcement Advisory Panel consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of the five Gulf States, as well as the NOAA Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the NOAA General Counsel for Law Enforcement.
The LEAP and LEC will review and discuss a number of issues, including:
- a revised definition of charter fishing
- proposed changes to the Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Program
- an options paper for Reef Fish Amendment 40 - Sector Separation
- possible regulations for red snapper slot limits and hook size
The group will also discuss implementation of NOAA turtle excluder device boarding form, as well as inter-jurisdictional fisheries program activity for:
- blue crab
- Gulf menhaden
- Gulf and Souther flounder
A copy of the agenda and related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-348-1630.
About the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico.
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