March 30, 2023 — The following was released by South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Interested in federal fisheries management and want to become more involved? Apply now for open seats on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s advisory panels or to serve as a fishing representative on the System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The SMP Workgroup addresses the needs of managed areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic. The Workgroup includes ecologists, coral scientists, mapping specialists, researchers, law enforcement and outreach representatives, and commercial and recreational fishermen.
The Council’s advisory panels inform and guide the Council in developing and implementing federal fishery management plans and amendments. Upcoming issues to be addressed by advisory panel members in 2023 include a holistic approach to managing the snapper grouper fishery through a Management Strategy Evaluation and options for recreational permits, options for Dolphin management along the Atlantic coast, Spanish Mackerel management measures and mackerel port meetings, conservation of newly discovered deep water coral ecosystems, and input on law enforcement issues affecting several fisheries.
System Management Plan Workgroup
(1) NC Recreational and (1) SC Commercial Representative
Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel
(2) Open Seats for Mid-Atlantic Representatives
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
(1) NC Seat, (1) SC Seat, and (1) GA Seat
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel
(1) Open Seat
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
(2) Open Seats
Shrimp Advisory Panel
(4) Open Seats
Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
(1) NC Commercial and (2) NC Charter Seats;
(1) SC Commercial and (2) SC Recreational/Charter Seats;
(1) GA Open Seat; and
(3) FL Commercial Seats and (2) FL Recreational Seats