FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL WILL MEET IN HOUSTON TO REVIEW AQUACULTURE PLAN, FISHING REGULATIONS

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils that were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Council prepares fishery management plans for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.  

The council has scheduled a meeting of the Standing Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Special Reef Fish SSC for January 9 – 10, 2008 at the Hilton Hobby, 8181 Airport Boulevard. The meeting will begin at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, January 9, and conclude at approximately noon on Thursday.

The joint Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will review a Generic Amendment for Offshore Aquaculture that contains provisions for allowing and regulating potential offshore aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of Mexico.

The SSCs will also review proposed Amendment 30B to the Reef Fish fishery management plan. That amendment contains provisions for potential additional regulations for gag grouper and possible regulation reductions on red grouper.

Finally, the SSCs may also discuss potential adjustments to the deep-water grouper and tilefish total allowable catch levels.

Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling (813) 348-1630, or e-mailing a request to gulfcouncil@gulfcouncil.org. Action of the SSC will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action.

The meeting is open to the public and is physically accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, see Gulf Council’s website.