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Reminder: SAFMC March 1-5, 2021 Meeting via Webinar

February 23, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Join members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council as they convene their quarterly meeting next week, March 1-5, 2021. The meeting will be held via webinar and is available to the public as it occurs. A single webinar registration will allow access to each day of the meeting. Register now to receive email reminders as the meeting date approaches. Additional materials and meeting details are available from the Council’s website.

Agenda Highlights

Amendment 10 to the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management Plan
- The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will review recent public comments and continue to work on the amendment with actions to modify catch levels and sector allocations for both Dolphin and Wahoo, reduce recreational vessel limits for Dolphin and Wahoo, reduce bag limits for Wahoo and other measures affecting the fishery along the Atlantic coast.
Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern (Coral Amendment 10) – a public hearing on proposed measures will be held during the public comment session (see below)
Snapper Grouper Committee will address:
- Red Porgy – (Snapper Grouper Amendment 50) – management measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock
- Greater Amberjack – (Snapper Grouper Amendment 49) – options to adjust catch levels and sector allocations
- Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Program – proposed changes to modernize the existing program. Public scoping will be held during the public comment session (see below)
King Mackerel – options to adjust catch levels and sector allocations. Public scoping will be held during the public comment session (see below).

The meeting begins Monday afternoon, March 1, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. with a meeting of the Full Council. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, March 5th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. In addition, public hearing comments specific to Coral Amendment 10 (Shrimp Fishery Access Areas) and scoping comments for the Wreckfish ITQ Program and proposed management options for King Mackerel will also be solicited. A separate registration is required to provide public comment.

All meeting materials, the online comment form, and webinar registration information is available by selecting the appropriate tab from the March 2021 Council meeting page at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

SAMFC: See How Recent Public Comments on Proposed Dolphin and Wahoo Measures Provide Insight to Managers

February 18, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Managing two popular offshore fish species along the entire Atlantic coast can be a challenge under the best of circumstances. Add an international component, lack of stock assessments, and the cascading effects of new catch level recommendations mixed with differing perceptions on the condition of the fisheries, and the challenge increases. Such is the case for Dolphin and Wahoo. Both are managed in federal waters by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from Maine to Key West, in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and New England Fishery Management Council. The two highly migratory species are often targeted in the U.S. by recreational fishermen and are prized by charter captains and private anglers alike for their colorful display as a fighting fish and for their delicious flavor.

In April 2020, the South Atlantic Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee provided new Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommendations for both Dolphin and Wahoo. The updates were primarily prompted by revisions to recreational data collected through the Marine Recreational Information Program or MRIP, a partnership between state marine resource agencies and NOAA Fisheries. Changes to the program’s effort survey have resulted in revised recreational landings estimates that are being incorporated into catch level recommendations, not only for Dolphin and Wahoo, but several other species managed by the Council.

Because the two fisheries are primarily recreational, with 90% of the annual catch limit for Dolphin and 96.07% for Wahoo currently allocated to the recreational sector, the recreational landings estimates from MRIP are especially important for management. Stock assessments are unavailable for Dolphin or Wahoo due in part to the migratory nature of each species but also due to a lack of reliable data on the stocks of each species. In the western Atlantic, they are found from Nova Scotia to Brazil, including Bermuda, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Dr. Wessley Merten with the Dolphinfish Research Program has provided the Council with presentations on tagging research demonstrating the migratory nature of Dolphin. In the presentations, Dr. Merten noted the largely unreported or under reported commercial landings from other countries. Learn more at: https://dolphintagging.com.

Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10

The new catch level recommendations require the Council to modify current annual catch limits (the number or pounds of fish that can be harvested in any given year) and adjust allocations between recreational and commercial sectors. For Dolphin and Wahoo these measures are being addressed through Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan. The amendment would also modify recreational accountability measures to help ensure that annual catch limits are not exceeded. These temporary measures may include in-season reductions in bag limits, vessel limits, or shortening of a season the following year if the catch limit is exceeded. In developing the amendment, the Council has also included proposed actions in response to public input on management changes needed in the fishery. There are currently a total of 13 actions in the amendment.

The Council recently held a series of public hearings via webinar where staff provided a complete overview of the amendment and the Council’s preferred alternatives. A copy of the presentation, video, and interactive story map is available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Let’s take a closer look at some of the proposed measures and concerns expressed by fishermen.

Read the complete article

Meeting Materials and Online Public Comment Form Now Available for SAFMC March 1-5, 2021 Meeting via Webinar

February 16, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting materials for the upcoming March 1-5, 2021 meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are now available, including the meeting week agenda and individual committee agendas and overviews. An online public comment form is also available.

The meeting will be held via webinar and is available to the public as it occurs. A single webinar registration will allow access to each day of the meeting. Register now to receive email reminders as the meeting date approaches. Additional materials and meeting details are available from the Council’s website.

Agenda Highlights

Amendment 10 to the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management Plan
- The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will review recent public comments and continue to work on the amendment with actions to modify catch levels and sector allocations for both Dolphin and Wahoo, reduce recreational vessel limits for Dolphin and Wahoo, reduce bag limits for Wahoo and other measures affecting the fishery along the Atlantic coast.
Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern (Coral Amendment 10) – a public hearing on proposed measures will be held during the public comment session (see below)
Snapper Grouper Committee will address:
- Red Porgy – (Snapper Grouper Amendment 50) – management measures to end overfishing and rebuild the stock
- Greater Amberjack – (Snapper Grouper Amendment 49) – options to adjust catch levels and sector allocations
- Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Program – proposed changes to modernize the existing program. Public scoping will be held during the public comment session (see below)
King Mackerel – options to adjust catch levels and sector allocations. Public scoping will be held during the public comment session (see below).

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for March 1-5 , 2021

February 4, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meet March 1-5, 2021 via webinar. During the week-long meeting Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

Dolphin and Wahoo (along the entire Atlantic coast)
Greater Amberjack
Red Porgy
King Mackerel
Wreckfish

The meeting agenda also includes continued review of a proposed Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern (Coral Amendment 10) and an update on the Council’s Habitat and Ecosystem Blueprint development.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. In addition, public hearing comments specific to Coral Amendment 10 (Shrimp Fishery Access Areas) and scoping comments for the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Program and proposed management options for King Mackerel will also be solicited.

Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public via webinar. Registration is required. Register now and receive reminders as the meeting date approaches. Meeting materials and the public comment form will be posted to the Council’s website two weeks prior to the meeting at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

Southeast Regional Permits Office Will Start Issuing Operator Permits on Paper Effective Immediately

January 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

An operator permit is required for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, and for rock shrimp of the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic.
Effective immediately, the NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Region Permit Office will no longer be issuing an operator permit for these fisheries on a plastic card, but will be issuing the permit on paper.
In addition, beginning in February 2021, if an applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on the application, the operator permit will be emailed to the applicant upon approval and the applicant can print it. Otherwise, if the applicant does not select the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on their application to the Southeast Region Permit Office, the operator permit will be printed out on paper and mailed to them from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Who is required to have an operator permit?

An operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a commercial vessel permit or a charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo.
An operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp (Carolinas Zone) or a commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp (South Atlantic federal waters).
More information on operator permits can be found here for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, and here for rock shrimp of the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic.

How will I receive my approved operator permit?

Starting February 2021, if the applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on the paper application, the operator permit will be sent to the email address provided.

What if I still want my approved operator permit mailed to me instead of emailed?

While the email address is a required field on the application, unless the applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box, we will print and mail the paper operator permit from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Read the full release here

SAFMC Seeks Public Input on Proposed Management Measures for Dolphin and Wahoo

January 15, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Offshore fishermen and others interested in the management of Dolphin (mahi mahi) and Wahoo along the Atlantic coast are encouraged to provide comments on regulatory measures proposed for both fisheries. Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are currently soliciting public comment on Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.

The management plan addresses measures for Dolphin and Wahoo in federal waters (ranging from than 3 to 200 nautical miles) along the east coast of the United States.

Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 includes actions to:

Update the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and revise Annual Catch Limits(ACL) for Dolphin and Wahoo largely based on updated recreational landings estimates.
Modify allocations between the recreational and commercial sectors for both species based on the new ABC and ACL values.
Revise recreational Accountability Measures to allow for temporary reductions in bag limits, vessel limits, and the season should the sector ACL be projected to be met for Dolphin, and temporarily reduce the bag limit, reduce the length of the season, or implement a vessel limit for Wahoo to prevent the sector ACL from being exceeded (post season).
Remove the Operator Card requirement for for-hire and commercial federal Dolphin Wahoo permit holders.
Allow possession of limited quantities of Dolphin or Wahoo onboard commercial vessels with trap, pot, or buoy gear onboard.
Reduce the recreational vessel limit for Dolphin
- Current limit = 60 fish per vessel. Alternatives range from 30 to 54 fish per vessel with additional alternatives to have the reductions apply only off the east coast of Florida, off the coasts of NC, SC and GA, or along the entire Atlantic coast.
Reduce the bag limit for Wahoo to 1 fish per person and implement vessel limits ranging from 2 to 8 fish per vessel.
Allow filleting of Dolphin at sea north of the NC/VA line onboard for-hire vessels. This action comes at the request of the Mid-Atlantic Council and for-hire captains in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.

Learn More and Submit Comments

A public hearing summary document, presentation and the draft amendment with details of the proposed actions and management alternatives are all now available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Plan now to attend a public hearing via webinar to learn more and provide formal comment during the public hearings. An online public comment form is also available from the website. Provide written comments now and also see what others are saying.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will review public comments as it continues to develop Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 during its March 1-5, 2021.

Management Measures for Dolphin and Wahoo Approved for Public Hearings

December 14, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council met via webinar last week and approved a list of proposed management measures for the Dolphin and Wahoo fisheries for public hearings. The hearings will be scheduled in early 2021. The measures, proposed in Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan, would revise catch levels and annual catch limits for both Dolphin and Wahoo, modify allocations between recreational and commercial sectors, and modify accountability measures designed to help prevent exceeding annual catch limits. These measures are proposed in response to revised recreational data estimates from the NOAA Fisheries Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) and recalibration of numbers used to establish Acceptable Biological Catches for each species.

The amendment also includes management alternatives to reduce recreational bag limits and vessel limits for Dolphin and Wahoo, eliminate a requirement for Operator Cards in the for-hire and commercial fisheries, address retention of Dolphin and Wahoo onboard permitted commercial vessels with specified gear onboard, and allow filleting of Dolphin at sea on board charter or headboat vessels in waters north of the Virginia/North Carolina line.

Both Dolphin and Wahoo are economically important species, often targeted by private recreational anglers and charter captains. The annual catch limit for Dolphin is currently allocated 90% recreational and 10% commercial. The species are managed by the Council in federal waters (greater than 3 nautical miles) along the entire Atlantic coast of the U.S. through the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.

Council members have received comments, primarily from charter captains in the Florida Keys, expressing concerns about the Dolphin fishery in South Florida. Fishermen report catching fewer fish, particularly the larger “bull” Dolphin and have requested the Council consider reductions in recreational bag limits or vessel limits. Concerns have also been expressed about the commercial longline fishery for Dolphin and possible impacts to the stock. The Council agreed to consider an additional amendment to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan in 2021 to address the longline fishery.

Public hearings for Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 will be held in early 2021 via webinar. Written public comments will also be accepted. The Council will review the public comments during its March meeting and is currently scheduled to approve Amendment 10 when it meets again in June 2021.

Other Business:

The Council also approved three items for public scoping. Scoping is used to obtain stakeholder input early in the decision-making process and help guide the Council for actions to consider.

Shrimp Fishery Access Area

Coral Amendment 10 includes options to establish a shrimp fishery access area along the eastern boundary of the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern. Located off the central east coast of Florida, the area is designated to help protect deepwater Oculina coral. The options are being considered at the request of fishermen involved in the commercial rock shrimp fishery. After considering input from its Coral Advisory Panel, Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel, and the Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel, the Council selected a preferred alternative for the proposed boundary area. Public scoping will occur in conjunction with the Council’s March 2021 meeting.

Wreckfish ITQ Modernization

The Council will continue to solicit input on measures proposed to modernize the current Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program used in the commercial fishery for Wreckfish, a deepwater grouper harvested by a limited number of vessels. Wreckfish shareholders and wholesale dealers met in October to provide guidance to the Council on recommended improvements to the program, including electronic reporting. The Council will hold a scoping meeting for proposed measures during its March 2021 meeting.

Red Porgy

In response to a recent stock assessment for Red Porgy, the Council is developing Amendment 50 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address overfishing, rebuild the stock and revise allocations. Despite having rebuilding plans in place for decades, the Red Porgy stock has not improved in the region. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act the Council must implement measures to revise the rebuilding plan and end overfishing within the next two years. Proposed measures include reductions in commercial trip limits, recreational bag limits and seasonal closures. The Council reviewed input from its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and acknowledged that declining abundance and poor recruitment may be due to factors other than fishing. Public scoping will take place in early 2021 via webinar.

Additional information about the December Council meeting, including a meeting Story Map, final committee reports, and briefing book materials is available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for March 1-5, 2021.

Reminder: SAFMC Meeting Begins Next Week via Webinar

December 2, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The quarterly meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council begins this Monday, December 7th via webinar and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, December 10, 2020. Meeting materials, including agendas, overviews, and documents are available for the upcoming meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public as it occurs. Register now and receive email reminders for the meeting.

Council members will address management measures affecting fisheries in federal waters, including proposed actions for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin and Wahoo. Agenda items also include modifications to the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program, deepwater shrimp closed areas, the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan and its Citizen Science Program.

Public Comment and Additional Details

An online public comment form is available for persons wishing to provide input on items included on meeting agenda. Written comments submitted online may be viewed from the meeting website at: https://safmc.net/december-2020-council-meeting-details/.

A formal public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Register now to provide comment during the formal public comment session.

Additional meeting details including agenda highlights, items scheduled for approval for public scoping and public hearing, and schedule-at-a-glance are also available from the website.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or 843/302-8440.

SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for December 7-10, 2020

November 23, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting materials, including agendas, overviews, and documents are now available for the upcoming meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council scheduled December 7-10, 2020 via webinar. Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public as it occurs. Register now and receive email reminders as the meeting dates approach.

During the meeting Council members will address management measures affecting fisheries in federal waters, including proposed actions for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin and Wahoo. Agenda items also include modifications to the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program, deepwater shrimp closed areas, the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan and its Citizen Science Program.

Public Comment and Additional Details

An online public comment form is now available for items on the the Council meeting agenda. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments using the online comment form prior to the meeting. Written comments submitted online may also be viewed from the meeting website at: https://safmc.net/december-2020-council-meeting-details/.

A formal public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Register now to provide comment during the formal public comment session.

Additional meeting details including agenda highlights, items scheduled for approval for public scoping and public hearing, and schedule-at-a-glance are also now available from the website.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or 843/302-8440.

SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for December 7-10, 2020

November 16, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet December 7-10, 2020 to address management measures affecting Dolphin and Wahoo, Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, and Yellowtail Snapper in federal waters.

The meeting agenda also includes discussion of modifications to deepwater shrimp closed areas, presentations relative to the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan, and reports from its advisory panels. Council members will also discuss the Council’s Citizen Science Program and ongoing projects. The meeting, originally scheduled for Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, will be held via webinar due to health concerns and the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting begins on Monday morning, December 7, 2020 with a Closed Session to review advisory panel applicants and policy issues. Open sessions begin Monday afternoon and meetings of the Council’s committees and Full Council will continue through Thursday, December 10th.

A public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m.