The Gulf Council will hold five Ecosystem Working Group meetings throughout the Gulf region. These meetings are being held to provide Ecosystem Working Group members from each region an opportunity to share their views of Fishery Ecosystem Issues of Concern. These Fishery Ecosystem Issues shape the Gulf Fishery Ecosystem Plan which is a non-regulatory document developed by the Council to explore system-informed management decisions.
The meetings will begin with an overview of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and the goals and objectives of the Working Group meetings. Working Group members will participate in a facilitated discussion to map the system of key factors that affect Gulf fisheries, identify concerns relative to the fishery ecosystem and how they impact the fishery, businesses, and communities. Working Group members will also participate in sector- or issue-specific breakout sessions for in-depth discussions of ecosystem concerns.
These meetings will be held in-person only without being broadcast virtually. The issues discussed in the Ecosystem Working Group meetings will be presented to the Council this summer. The meetings will be held from 9 AM – 5 PM on the following dates and locations:
Mississippi
Monday, March 23, 2026
Courtyard by Marriott
1600 East Beach Blvd.
Gulfport, MS 36501
Louisiana
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Courtyard by Marriott
142 Library Drive
Houma, LA 70360
Alabama
Friday, March 27, 2026
The Lodge
21196 East Beach Blvd
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Florida
Monday, April 13, 2026
Hyatt Place at Forum
2600 Champion Ring Road
Fort Myers, FL 33905
Texas
Friday, April 17, 2026
Holiday Inn Resort
5002 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, TX 77551
About The Gulf Council: The Gulf 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 America.