October 30, 2023 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on proposed catch level changes for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel. The Council will hold two public scoping meetings via webinar this week, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. The second webinar will be held Wednesday, November 1st at 6 p.m. Register for webinar.
Atlantic migratory group Spanish Mackerel are managed in federal waters from the Miami/Dade County line in southeast Florida northward along the Atlantic coast to a line extending from the intersection point of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. A popular nearshore species for both commercial and recreational fishermen, the stock is not overfished nor undergoing overfishing.
Changes to catch levels are being considered based on Acceptable Biological Catch levels set by the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. The Council is seeking input before moving forward with catch level changes through Framework Amendment 13 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan.
Additional Information
During the scoping webinars Council staff will review the actions being considered in Framework Amendment 13, answer questions, and a Council member will take comments. Register now.
The Public Scoping Summary and CMP Framework Amendment 13 Scoping Presentation is available from the Council’s website: https://safmc.net/events/oct-nov-2023-public-scoping-cmp-framework-amendment-13/.
An online public comment form for written comments is also available from the website.