The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene its Reef Fish Advisory Panel August 6 and 7, 2012. The meeting will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, in Tampa, Florida. The Reef Fish Advisory Panel will convene at 8:30 a.m. August 6, 2012, and conclude no later than 5:00 p.m. August 7, 2012.

The Advisory Panel will review several amendments under development, which include:

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. If implemented, this rule would establish sector annual catch limits (ACLs) and sector annual catch targets (ACTs) for greater amberjack; revise the sector accountability measures (AMs) for greater amberjack; and establish a commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. Additionally, Amendment 35 would modify the greater amberjack rebuilding plan. The intent of Amendment 35 is to end overfishing of greater amberjack, modify the greater amberjack rebuilding plan and help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the greater amberjack resource in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Written comments must be received on or before August 20, 2012.

With oil from the 2010 BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico continuing to show up on beaches and in wetlands along Louisiana's coast, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority passed a resolution criticizing the Coast Guard for prematurely allowing BP to pull cleanup teams from coastal areas it declares clean. The authority passed a second resolution requesting the governor's office and the state attorney general's office to brief its members on whether any of the state's criminal statutes can be applied to BP.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement management measures described in Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would remove the income qualification requirements for renewal of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) commercial reef fish permits and increase the maximum crew size to four for dual-permitted vessels (i.e. vessels that possess both a charter vessel/headboat permit for Gulf reef fish and a commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish) that are fishing commercially. The intent of this rule is to remove permit requirements that may no longer be applicable to current commercial fishing practices and to improve vessel safety in the Gulf reef fish fishery.

Written comments must be received on or before August 17, 2012.

If you go saltwater fishing in this state, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) researchers want to learn about your experiences and opinions through the new online Florida Saltwater Fishing Panel. Anyone with a valid Florida saltwater fishing license or Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting and Fishing License, as well as exempt residents age 65 and older, can sign up to take part in the panel, which begins this summer.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene three web based meetings of the ABC Control Rule Working Group.

The first webinar meeting will convene on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. The webinar will begin at 9 a.m. and is expected end by 12 noon eastern time.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is requesting public comment for the next one-and-a-half weeks on the proposed anchoring and mooring ordinance for Monroe County. Monroe County was chosen as a site for a legislatively directed anchoring and mooring pilot program, as were Martin County and its city of Stuart, and Sarasota, St. Augustine and St. Petersburg.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently advancing three proposed Fishery Management Plan Amendments and one White Paper to modify the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan for tunas, swordfish, sharks and billfish. The government's overarching goal is to maximize U.S. fishing opportunities that will insure the United States catches its quota of swordfish and bluefin tuna while striving to end overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and prevent overfishing if it has not occurred.  

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene its ABC Control Rule Working Group via a webinar. The webinar meeting will convene Tuesday, July 31, 2012, beginning at 9:00 am, concluding no later than noon eastern time. 

The August Gulf Council Meeting will be held at the Astor Crowne Plaza located at 739 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA  70130.  The agenda begins Monday, August 20 at 1:30 pm and ends no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday, August 22, 2012.