The meetings will be held from 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013. See below for specific dates and times. AP's include MPA Expert Workgroup, Law Enforcement, Information & Education and Law Enforcement.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, 4381 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; telephone: (800) 503-5762 or (843) 744-4422; fax: (843) 744-4472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, SAFMC; phone 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10; FAX 843/769-4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as follows:
MPA Expert Workgroup Agenda: Monday, February 4, 2013, 1:30 p.m. until Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 12 p.m.
1. Receive a presentation on the reorientation of existing MPAs
based on occurrence and habitat.
2. Review and revise recommendations based on data availability,
assumptions and other considerations with a focus on reorienting
existing MPAs in order to reduce bycatch of speckled hind and warsaw
grouper in the South Atlantic Region.
3. Discuss timing and develop workgroup report.
Joint Information & Education AP and Law Enforcement AP Agenda: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.
1. Receive an overview of Snapper Grouper Amendment 30, pertaining
to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), as well as a review of the VMS
fact sheet.
2. Receive a presentation on the mobile phone application for SAFMC
regulations.
3. Receive a presentation on the status of the SAFMC Web site
upgrade, including upgrades to the law enforcement sections of the Web
site. This includes a Law Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
section.
4. Review updates on the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Web
site and discuss communication improvements regarding regulatory and
law enforcement issues with officers and field offices.
Information & Education AP Agenda, Thursday, February 7, 2013, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
1. Receive an overview and an update on the Marine Resource
Education Program (MREP) project.
2. Receive an update on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Communication Group Social Media Workshop.
3. Discuss the SAFMC Web site upgrade, including the Web site
format and types of necessary outreach materials.
4. Receive an overview of proposed outreach materials for 2013.
5. Receive an overview of the SAFMC Visioning Process for snapper
grouper species.
6. Discuss strategic planning.
Law Enforcement AP Agenda, Thursday, February 7, 2013, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
1. Approve agenda and March 2012 AP meeting minutes.
2. Receive an update on the following recently completed and
developing amendments pertaining to the Snapper Grouper (SG) Fishery
Management Plan: Regulatory Amendment 13, pertaining to the revision of
Annual Catch Limits (ACLs); Regulatory Amendment 15 (yellowtail snapper
and grouper); Amendment 28 (red snapper); Amendment 18B and Regulatory
Amendment 16 (golden tilefish); Regulatory Amendment 14 (management
measures for the complex); and Regulatory Amendment 17 (MPAs).
3. Review SG Regulatory Amendment 18, regarding the adjustment of
the ACL/sector ACLs for vermilion snapper and red porgy based on
recently completed stock assessment updates for these species.
4. Review SG Amendment 27, which assumes management responsibility
for Nassau grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, increases the number of crew
members allowed on dual-permitted snapper grouper vessels (vessels that
have both a federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for snapper
grouper species and a South Atlantic Unlimited or 225 pound SG Permit),
addresses the issues of captain and crew retention of bag limit
quantities of snapper grouper species, proposes changes to the existing
snapper grouper framework procedure to allow for more timely
adjustments to ACLs, and modifies management measures for blue runner.
5. Review SG Amendment 30, which considers VMS requirements for
vessels with South Atlantic commercial snapper grouper permits. This
action was initially included in a separate amendment but was recently
transferred to its own separate amendment.
6. Review Joint Mackerel Amendment 19, which addresses bag limit
sales of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia, including a
potential new commercial permit requirement for cobia. The amendment
also addresses permit requirements for king mackerel and Spanish
mackerel.
7. Review Joint Mackerel Amendment 20, which includes evaluation of
boundaries, allocations and transit provisions; considers a commercial
quota for North Carolina king and Spanish mackerel; and modifies the
framework procedure.
8. Review the Mackerel Framework Amendment, which considers size
limits, transfer allowances and changes in commercial trip limits.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's
intent to take final action to address the emergency.