This document contains the full chronology of motions made at the full Council session of the Gulf Council meeting held May 19-20, 2004 in Key Largo. Florida. This includes failed, substituted, and amended motions as well as those that passed. Motions that passed (excluding motions to amend) are indicated in bold.
(Note: See further below for additional reef fish motions)
Motion: that the Council take the preferred alternative out of Amendment 23 Section 4.2.3.2 Recreational Harvest Reduction Alternatives.
Motion carried with a vote of 7 to 6.
Motion: to reconsider the motion that the Council take the preferred off of the alternative out of Amendment 23 Section 4.2.3.2 Recreational Harvest Reduction Alternatives.
Motion carried by a vote of 9 to 4.
Motion: that the Council remove the preferred off of the alternatives out of Amendment 23 Section 4.2.3.2 Recreational Harvest Reduction Alternatives.
Motion failed by a vote of 4 to 9.
Motion: approve sending Reef Fish Amendment 23 to public hearings.
Motion carried by a vote of 11 to 2.
Motion: The Council believes LNG open loop systems will adversely affect the biota of the Gulf of Mexico and the recreational and commercial fishing industries that depend on this biota. Therefore, the Council opposes the use of open loop LNG systems in the Gulf of Mexico, and recommends the use of closed loop systems in inshore, near shore, and offshore locations.
Motion carried with one abstention.
Motion: that Council staff proceed to negotiate a contract with MRAG, Americas to accomplish a generic EFH Amendment to all fishery management plans and negotiate a reasonable contract fee for such not to exceed $100,000.
Amendment: replace "for such not to exceed $100, 000" with "as discussed with the Executive Director."
Amendment Carried
Motion as Amended: that Council staff proceed to negotiate a contract with MRAG, Americas to accomplish a generic EFH Amendment to all fishery management plans and negotiate a reasonable contract fee as discussed with the Executive Director.
Motion as amended carried with no objection.
Amendment 22 (Red Snapper Rebuilding Plan)
Motion: Revise Section 4.3.3.1.4 Alternative 4 (Preferred)
Direct NOAA Fisheries to develop and manage an observer program for the reef fish fishery. NOAA Fisheries will develop a random selection procedure for determining vessels that will be required to carry observers in order to collect bycatch information. In selecting vessels, the agency will consider the suitability of the vessel for such purpose and ensure that the universe of vessels included are representative of all statistical sub-zones in the Gulf. Vessel permits will not be renewed for vessels that fail or refuse to carry observers in accordance with this process. The implementation of the observer program shall be initiated as soon as NOAA Fisheries obtains sufficient funding for the program.
Motion carried with one opposed.
Motion: that Reef Fish Amendment 22 be sent to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation.
Motion carried by roll call vote with no objection, and 3 members absent.
Hogfish and Goliath Grouper SEDAR Assessment Reviews
Motion: that staff be instructed to come up with non-destructive or destructive ways to collect the biological data necessary to manage the goliath grouper fishery.
Motion carried with no objection.
Amendment 18
Motion: To include Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 in Reef Fish Amendment 18
Amendment: Remove 5.4
Amendment failed.
Amendment: add "Begin Amendment 18B which will include sections 5.5 and 5.6 of the current Amendment 18"
Amendment carried.
Motion as Amended: To include Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 in Reef Fish Amendment 18A and begin Amendment 18B which will include sections 5.5 and 5.6 of the current Amendment 18.
Motion as amended carried.
Motion: Write a letter to Dr. Hogarth advising that the Council is aware that there is a discussion to buy out Gulf Reef Fish long-line vessels. The Council does not know the particulars of the discussion, but wants Dr. Hogarth to know that the grouper fishery and other Gulf fisheries have excess capacity and removing effort from the fishery would benefit the resource and the remaining fishers.
Motion failed by a vote of 6 to 6 with one abstention.
Red Snapper IFQ Profile
Motion: adding an alternative to the IFQ Profile to require VMS aboard all vessels that are harvesting under an IFQ coupon.
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: To send the IFQ Profile to scoping and approve the 2004 August calendar handout of scoping meeting dates and locations. (New Orleans, LA; Houma, LA; Abbeyville, LA; Brownsville, TX; Aransas Pass, TX; Palacios, TX; Galveston, TX; Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; Panama City, FL; Tampa, FL)
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: To approve Dr. Keithly to assist in the IFQ scoping meetings.
Substitute motion: to approve Dr. Keithly to assist in the IFQ Scoping meetings and the subsequent public hearings.
Substitute Motion Carried with no objection.
Motion: In case of delay of Shrimp Amendment 13, IFQ profile hearings should be held in Corpus Christi, TX; Palacios, TX; Galveston, TX; Panama City, FL; Madeira Beach, FL; Biloxi, MS; Orange Beach, AL; New Orleans, LA; Houma, LA; and Lake Charles, LA.
Motion carried with no objection.
Options Paper for Draft Amendment 13
Motion: to add alternatives for a random sampling of a subset of shrimp vessel permit holders that would be required to complete the Gulf Shrimp Vessel Gear Characterization Form.
Motion carried with no objection.
Shrimp Vessel Permit Moratorium
Motion: to include alternatives to establish a moratoirum on the issuance of commercial shrimp vessel permits as part of Amendment 13. Shrimp vessel permits would remain fully transferrable, and the qualifying alternatives considered for vessels to remain in the fishery would be: (1) that a vessel had a valid commercial shrimp vessel permit at the time of the publication of the control date (December 6, 2003) (2) that a vessel had a valid commercial shrimp vessel permit as of May 18, 2004. (3) that a vessel had a valid commercial shrimp vessel permit as of the date of implementation of the final rule to implement.
The moratorium with options for a duration of 1) 5 years, 2) 10 years, or 3) indefinitely.
Motion carried with no objection.
Other
Motion: The Council records and conveys sympathy and support for Council members Kay Williams and Corky Perret, and our wishes for both to have a swift and complete recovery from their current illnesses.
Motion carried with no objection.
Joint Reef Fish/King Mackerel Limited Access
Motion: that the Council adopt the alternatives for Action 1 with a change to the language of Alternative 4 from a "license" to a "permit".
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: accept the alternatives in Action 2.
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: the Council adopt the alternatives for Action 1 with a change to the language of Alternative 4 from a "license" to a "permit".
Motion carried with no objection.
Scoping Document for Extension of the Charter Vessel Permit Moratorium
Motion: the Council adopt alternatives for a 5, 7, and 10-year extension in place of the 3, 4, 5, or 6-year extension (along with status quo).
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: that scoping meetings be held at the locations (Naples, FL; Madeira Beach, FL; Destin, FL; New Orleans, LA; Biloxi, MS; Orange Beach, AL; Port Isabel, TX; Port Aransas, TX; Galveston, TX) indicated in Section 7.0 of the scoping document and as indicated on Tab F, No. 6, as previously approved.
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: add a section to the Charter Boat Moratorium Scoping Document that states a charter vessel permittee can combine permits to increase the number of passengers (within COI requirements) for their vessel or another vessel.
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: to accept the list for membership of a Management Committee for the Generic Operator Permits Amendment under Tab K, No. 1. (Joe Hendrix, Chair; Robin Riechers, Vice Chair; Karen Bell; Maumus Claverie; Jim Fensom; Walter Thomassie; Kay Williams)
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: to accept the list outlined in Tab K, No. 3 for membership of an Ecosystem Management Committee. (Julie Morris, Chair; Columbus Brown, Vice Chair; Karen Bell; Maumus Claverie; Joe Hendrix; Corky Perret; Robin Riechers; Kay Williams)
Motion carried with no objection.
Motion: fund the LEAP meeting scheduled for July 20-21, 2004.
Motion carried with no objection.