This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA87FC0003.

NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT: RICHARD L. LEARD

COMMITTEE TO REVIEW DRAFT AMENDMENT ON ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT

Tampa, Florida - May 27, 1997 - The Florida/Alabama, Mississippi/Louisiana, and Texas Habitat Protection Advisory Panels (AP) of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will review the draft amendment on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The draft document is mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (M-SFMCA) and addresses EFH in all seven of the Council’s Fishery Management Plans (FMP). The following is a summary of the amendment:

• EFH is identified and described based on areas where various life stages of 21 selected managed species and the coral complex commonly occur. The selected species are shrimp (brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus; white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus; pink shrimp, Penaeus duorarum); red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus; reef fish (red grouper, Epinephelus morio; gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepsis; scamp grouper, Mycteroperca phenax; red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus; gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus; yellowtail snappper, Ocyurus chrysurus; lane snapper, Lutjanus synagris; greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili; lesser amberjack, Seriola fasciata; tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps; and gray triggerfish, Balistes capriscus), coastal migratory pelagic species (king mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla; Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus maculatus; cobia, Rachycentron canadum; and dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus), stone crab, Menippe mercenaria; spiny lobster, Panulirus argus; and the coral complex.
  
• The selected species represent about a third of the species under management by the Council. Collectively, these species commonly occur throughout all of the marine and estuarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico. EFH for the remaining managed species will be addressed in future FMP amendments, as appropriate.

• EFH is defined as everywhere that the above managed species commonly occur. Because these species collectively occur in all estuarine and marine habitats of the Gulf of Mexico, EFH is separated into estuarine and marine components. For the estuarine component, EFH includes all estuarine waters and substrates (mud, sand, shell, rock, and associated biological communities), including the sub-tidal vegetation (seagrasses and algae) and adjacent inter-tidal vegetation (marshes and mangroves). In the marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, EFH includes virtually all marine waters and substrates (mud, sand, shell, rock, and associated biological communities) from the shoreline to the seaward limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  
• Threats to EFH from fishing and nonfishing activities are identified.
  
• Options to conserve and enhance EFH are provided and research needs are identified.

• No management measures and, therefore, no regulations are proposed at this time. Fishing-related management measures to minimize any identified impacts are deferred to future amendments when the Council has the information necessary to decide if the measures are practicable.

The Florida/Alabama Habitat Protection AP will meet at the Ramada Airport Inn & Conference Center, 5303 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, June 17, 1998. The Mississippi/Louisiana Habitat Protection AP will meet at the New Orleans Airport Radisson, 2150 Veterans Boulevard, Kenner, Louisiana, on Monday, June 22, 1998. The Texas Habitat Protection AP will meet at the Hobby Airport Hilton, 8181 Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, June 30, 1998. The meetings in Florida and Texas will begin at 10:00 a.m. and conclude by 5:00 p.m; the meeting in Louisiana will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude by 4:00 p.m.

A copy of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815. Although other issues not on the agenda may come before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed as available by this notice.

The meeting is open to the public and is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office by June 10, 1998.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is 1 of 8 regional fishery management councils that were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council prepares fishery management plans that are designed to manage fishery resources in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

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