The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of its Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) June 29, 2010 via a webinar. The meeting will convene at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, and conclude by 4:00 p.m. the same day.
The Committee will meet to discuss the proposed work plan and conceptual framework for the Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committee, as well as a possible response to the Gulf oil spill.
The Ecosystem SSC is a committee of biologists, economists, biologists, and sociologists knowledgeable about the biological and human aspects of Gulf of Mexico ecosystems. The committee is appointed by the Council and provides it advice on ways to add ecosystem considerations to the fishery management plans and actions, and other ecosystem related issues.
The ecosystem approach to fishery management takes into account the protection of marine ecosystems and fosters the long-term sustainable use of marine resources in an ecologically and culturally sensitive manner through the use of a science-based ecosystem approach to resource management. The ecosystems approach does not replace current management, but instead supplements and enhances it.
Anyone wishing to participate in the webinar must first register. Directions on how to register will be posted on the Council website - www.gulfcouncil.org - one week prior to the scheduled webinar. Copies of the agenda and related materials will be available for download from the Gulf Council's ftp site - ftp.gulfcouncil.org. Once on the ftp site go to the Ecosystem folder and click on Ecosystem SSC webinar-2010-06.
Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Committee for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.
