June 18, 2025 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council met this past week in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to address federal fishery management issues in the South Atlantic region. During the week-long meeting, the Council acknowledged that new approaches may be necessary to federal fisheries management given recent changes that include reductions in staffing and funding at NOAA Fisheries, as well as Executive Order 14276 Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.
The Council will develop its response to the directives in Executive Order 14276, including identifying measures to reduce regulatory burden and promote domestic fisheries. Information will be provided on the Council website and input solicited from the public and Council advisory panels. Council members identified initial items that respond to the Executive Order during last week’s meeting, including revision or removal of the “2 for 1” provision for commercial snapper grouper federal permits, removing species from the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit, addressing shark depredation, and shifting management of Spiny Lobster to the State of Florida. The Council will review public input and continue discussions during its September 2025 meeting.