The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will meet March 30 - April 2, 2015, at the Golden Nugget in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Committee meetings will convene Monday at 8:30 am, concluding at 10:00 am Wednesday.

Some of the Committee highlights include:

The Law Enforcement Management Committee, which will meet to discuss a report from the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The Data Collection Committee will review a scoping/options paper for Electronic Charter Boat Reporting.

The Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem Management Committee will review and discuss:

NOAA Climate Change Strategy
National Standard 1 Proposed Revisions
Final Action of Decal Requirements for Charter Vessels and Headboats
Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committee Report

The Mackerel Management Committee will review an options paper for a Mackerel Gillnet Framework Action, and the Spiny Lobster Management Committee will review recommendations made by the Spiny Lobster Scientific and Statistical Committee.

On Tuesday, the Reef Fish Management Committee will meet to review:

Recreational Red Snapper Season Projections
Presentation on the Headboat Collaborative Program
Options Paper for Gag Annual Catch Limit, Annual Catch Target, and Seasons
Take Final Action on a Greater Amberjack Framework Action
Scoping Summaries on Amendment 36 - Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Modifications
Draft Amendment 28 - Red Snapper Allocation
Draft Amendment 39 - Regional Management of Recreational Red Snapper
Joint South Florida Management Options
Hogfish Overfishing Limits and Acceptable Biological Catch
Charge to the Reef Fish Headboat Advisory Panel
Report from the Scientific and Statistical Committee

Wednesday will begin with the Shrimp Management Committee to discuss:

Biological Review of the Texas Closure
Summary of the Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting
Report on Penaeid Shrimp Maximum Sustainable Yield Acceptable Biological Catch Rule Workshop
Update on Shrimp Amendment 15
Scoping document for Shrimp Amendment 17
Report from the Standing and Special Shrimp Scientific and Statistical Committee

Other committees meetings include:

Joint Administrative Policy/Budget
Gulf SEDAR Committee

The full Council will convene in a Closed Session Wednesday at 10:15 am. to make make Advisory Panel appointments before breaking for lunch. The Council reconvenes at 1:00 pm to receive presentations on the following:

Mandatory Safety Exams for All Commercial Fishing Vessels
Notice of Intent for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Draft Environmental Assessment for Amendment 6 to the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan

The Council will hear public comment from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Public testimony will be taken on:

Final Action - Framework Action on Greater Amberjack
Final Action on Shrimp Amendment 15
Final Action on Eliminating Charter Vessel/Headboat Decal Requirement
Open Public Comment

The full Council will resume Thursday at 8:30 am to deliberate and take action on committee recommendations made earlier in the week.