Saving Seafood

Multiple Fisheries Reopen May 1st in SA Federal Waters

April 26, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Spring fishing season is underway! If you plan to head offshore, fishermen are reminded that beginning May 1st each year there are a few more species to target in South Atlantic federal waters (greater than 3 nautical miles off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the east coast of Florida).

May 1st marks the beginning of the shallow-water grouper season, following the annual spawning season closure from January 1st through April 30th. The one exception is the Red Grouper season in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina, which will open for harvest on June 1st.

Regulations also change for Greater Amberjack, Snowy Grouper, Hogfish and several other species.

Check out the Council’s latest blog for details.

Fish Rules: Always Have the Latest Regulations With You

Before heading offshore, download the free Fish Rules mobile application. Then simply check for updates before your next fishing trip and you’ll have the information in your pocket, no matter where your fishing trip takes you. No signal? No problem. None required to access the correct information once the app has been updated.

Fish Rules Download:

iPhone or Android

Questions?

Contact Cameron Rhodes, Outreach Program Manager, cameron.rhodes@safmc.net or Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, kim.iverson@safmc.net or call the Council office at 843/571-4366.

SAFMC seeks applicants for advisory panels

November 5, 2020 — Carteret County residents with experience in fisheries have an opportunity to apply for an advisory position with an interstate fishery management council.

 The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, an interstate fishery management agency with jurisdiction in the federal waters 3-200 miles offshore of the southeastern states, including North Carolina, is soliciting applicants for several open seats on its dolphin wahoo advisory panel, as well as the outreach and communications advisory panel and a commercial representative on the law enforcement advisory panel. The council’s advisory panels inform and guide the council in developing and implementing federal fishery management plans.

Instructions on how to apply and application forms are available online from the council’s website, safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/.  Anyone with questions may contact SAFMC public information officer Kim Iverson by email at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or by calling 843-571-4366.

Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times

Reminder: SAFMC Meeting September 14-17, 2020

September 9, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s quarterly September meeting will be held next week via webinar. The meeting is available to the public via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration is required and can be completed in advance by visiting the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/september-2020-council-meeting-details/.

Meeting materials, including committee agendas and overviews, decision documents, and presentations are also posted on the website.

Note! A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, September 16th beginning at 4:00 PM. An online comment form is also now available.

Additional Information:

Information for the September 2020 meeting and other meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. For questions, please contact: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or by phone at 843/302-8440.

Mark Your Calendar – SAFMC Meeting September 14-17, 2020

August 18, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for September 14-17, 2020. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Charleston, South Carolina. Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and public safety, the Council meeting will be held via webinar.

The meeting will be available via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration is required and can be completed in advance by visiting the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/september-2020-council-meeting-details/.

A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, September 16th beginning at 4:00 PM. Meeting materials and an online comment form will be available beginning August 28, 2020 through the website.

Agenda Highlights:

  • Dolphin Wahoo – The Council will consider approving Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 12 for Secretarial review. The amendment would add Bullet Mackerel and Frigate Mackerel to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.
  • Work continues on draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan to address revisions to recreational data and catch level recommendations, redefine Optimum Yield for the dolphin fishery, modify accountability measures, modify recreational bag limits for Dolphin, and consider other revisions to the Dolphin and Wahoo fisheries. The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will receive a presentation on recent Dolphin research.
  • Emergency Actions – The Council will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on earlier requests for emergency action to increase the recreational bag limit for Atlantic King Mackerel and increase commercial trip limits for Vermilion Snapper. The Council will consider any additional actions relative to COVID-19 impacts.
  • Snapper Grouper – The Snapper Grouper Committee will begin considering management options to end overfishing of Red Porgy and revise the rebuilding plan based on the latest stock assessment. The Committee will also review the 2020 Red Snapper season and address modernization of the Wreckfish ITQ (Individual Transferable Quota) program.

Additional Information:

Information on the September 2020 meeting and other meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. For questions, please contact: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or by phone at 843/302-8440.

SAFMC seeks applicants for advisory panels

July 14, 2020 — Local fishermen, commercial and recreational, as well as those with other connections to fishing and the marine environment have an opportunity to offer advice to interstate fishery managers.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applicants for open advisory panel seats. The council is an interstate fishery management agency with jurisdiction in the federal waters off the Atlantic coast from the southeastern U.S., including North Carolina. The council’s advisory panels inform and guide the council in developing and implementing federal fishery management plans.

Applications must be received by Monday, Aug. 10 for consideration by the council during its Sept. 14-18 meeting currently scheduled for Charleston, S.C.

Instructions on how to apply and application forms for individual advisory panels are available online from the council’s website at safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/. For more information, contact SAFMC public information officer Kim Iverson by email at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call 843-571-4366.

Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times

Reminder – New Regulations for Descending Devices and Hook Modifications Begin Tomorrow

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

Fishermen heading offshore this Friday to take advantage of the last day of the recreational Red Snapper opening in the South Atlantic are reminded that new regulations requiring descending devices be on board and changes to hook requirements become effectiveJuly 15, 2020 in federal waters.

Descending Device Requirements

The new requirements are designed to help improve the chances that released fish survive by encouraging the use of descending devices when needed and modifying current hook requirements. Beginning July 15th, a descending device must be on board and readily available for use (attached to a minimum of 60-feet of line with at least 16 ounces of weight) when targeting snapper grouper species. The descending device can help reduce the effects of barotrauma, a condition that occurs when a fish is rapidly reeled up from depth. Signs include protrusion of the stomach from the fish’s mouth, bulging eyes, prolapse, and bubbling scales. A descending device can quickly be used to send the fish back to depth, improving its chances of survival.

Hook Modifications

Changes to hook requirements are also being implemented. Fishermen targeting snapper grouper species with hook-and-line gear and natural baits north of 28 degrees N. latitude (approximately 25 miles south of Cape Canaveral, Florida) must use non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks. The new regulations also require that all hooks must be non-stainless steel when targeting snapper grouper species in federal waters in the South Atlantic.

Recreational, Commercial and For-Hire Fishermen

Note that the new requirements apply to recreational fishermen as well as federally-permitted for-hire (charter) and commercial snapper grouper vessels fishing in federal waters (greater than 3 nautical miles) off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida.

Learn More

Additional details on the new requirements as well as information on proper handling techniques, how to identify barotrauma, and how-to videos demonstrating the effectiveness of descending devices are available from the Council’s new Best Fishing Practices webpage at: https://safmc.net/best-fishing-practices/.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or Cameron Rhodes, Outreach Program Coordinator at Cameron.Rhodes@safmc.net or contact the Council Office at 843/571-4366.

Reminder – SAFMC Meeting June 8-11, 2020 via Webinar

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

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold their quarterly meeting June 8-11, 2020 via webinar.

The meeting week begins on Monday, June 8th at 10:30 a.m. with a series of committee meetings and concludes with a meeting of the Full Council on Thursday, June 11.

Meeting briefing book materials, including committee agendas and overviews, discussion documents, and presentations are available at: https://safmc.net/june-2020-council-meeting-details/. An online comment form is also available for written comments.

The meeting will be available to the public via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration is required and can be completed in advance by visiting the website at the above link.

A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, June 10th beginning at 4:00 PM. Details on how to sign up for public comment are available from the meeting page of the website.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net, Cameron Rhodes, Outreach Program Coordinator at Cameron.Rhodes@safmc.net or contact the Council Office at 843/571-4366.

May 1st Triggers Opening of Shallow-Water Grouper and Other Species in the South Atlantic

April 26, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Spring is in the air – and that means fishing! Beginning May 1st, fishermen will have a few more species to target in South Atlantic federal waters (greater than 3 miles off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida). May 1st marks the beginning of the shallow-water grouper season, following the annual spawning season closure from January 1st through April 30th.

Regulations also change for red porgy, greater amberjack, snowy grouper, and several other species.

Check out the latest blog for more details.

Always Have the Latest Regulations with You!

Before heading offshore, download the Fish Rules mobile application. Then simply check for updates before your next fishing trip and you’ll have the information with you no matter how far your fishing trip takes you. No signal? No problem. None required to access the correct information once the app is updated.

Fish Rules Download:
iPhone or
Android

Questions? Contact Cameron Rhodes, Outreach Specialist at cameron.rhodes@safmc.net or Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or call the Council Office at 843/224-7258.

SAFMC News Release – Council Seeks Applicants for Federal Fishery Advisory Panels and Workgroup

January 18, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently soliciting applicants for open advisory panel seats as well as fishing representatives to serve on the System Management Plan Workgroup. The Workgroup will address future needs of managed areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic. The Council’s advisory panel members provide information and guidance in the development and implementation of federal fishery management plans.

The Council has 13 advisory panels composed of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of managed species, or are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery or managed species. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as environmental groups, fishing organizations, etc., and concerned citizens.

Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council and serve for a three-year period, based on the frequency of meetings. As those appointments expire, members currently serving on an AP may reapply for their positions. These seats are also open to new applicants. Members may serve three consecutive terms before reaching their multi-term limit. The Council’s advisory panels generally meet no more than once or twice each year and members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for all meetings. Applications are now being solicited for the following advisory panel positions:

Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel (1) GA Open Seat

Habitat Advisory Panel (1) NC Commercial and (1) NC Conservation; (1) FL Commercial; and (1) At-Large Research/Geologist Seat

Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat

Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel (2) Open Seats

Shrimp Advisory Panel (1) Open NGO Seat and (1) Open Seat

Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel (3) Open Seats

Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (1) SC Open Seat and (2) GA Open Seats

Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel (1) Open Seat

System Management Plan Workgroup Positions
The Council is also soliciting applicants to represent commercial and recreational interests on its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The workgroup will provide recommendations on managed areas in federal waters under the Council’s jurisdiction. The Council currently has system management plans in place for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, Spawning Special Management Zones, and the Oculina Experimental Closed Area. Additional areas will be added, with the goal to eventually have a single System Management Plan in place for all managed areas.

The System Management Plan Workgroup will be responsible for drafting reports on the recommendations for size, configuration, and regulations for managed areas; discussing research, outreach, and enforcement efforts; and commenting on research priorities. The Workgroup will meet two times per year. Travel and per diem expenses will be covered if in-person meetings are held.

Open positions on the System Management Plan Workgroup:
Recreational Representatives (1) SC and (1) GA
Commercial Representatives (1) GA

How to Apply
Application forms for individual advisory panels and the SMP Workgroup are available online from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/. For questions about the advisory panel seats contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call the Council office at 843/571-4366. Questions regarding the SMP Workgroup should be directed to Dr. Chip Collier at chip.collier@safmc.net or by calling the Council office.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available from the “About Us” section of the Council’s website at www.safmc.net or through the Council office.

Advisory panel and workgroup members will be selected during the Council’s March 4-8, 2019 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA. Applications must be received by February 8, 2019 for consideration by the Council during the March meeting.

SAFMC: Council Seeks Applicants for Federal Fishery Advisory Panels; Workgroup

January 19, 2018 — CHARLESTON, S.C. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently soliciting applicants for open advisory panel seats as well as positions to serve on a newly formed workgroup to address future needs of managed areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic. The Council’s advisory panel members provide information and guidance in the development and implementation of federal fishery management plans. The Council has 13 advisory panels composed of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of managed species, or are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery or managed species. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as environmental groups, fishing organizations, etc., and concerned citizens.

Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council and serve for a three-year period, based on the frequency of meetings. As those appointments expire, members currently serving on the AP may reapply for their positions. These seats also become open to new applicants. Members may serve for three consecutive terms before reaching their term limit. AP members generally meet no more than once or twice each year and are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for all meetings. Applications are now being solicited for the following advisory panel positions:

System Management Plan Workgroup Positions

The Council is also soliciting applicants to serve on its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. This newly formed workgroup will provide recommendations on managed areas in federal waters under the Council’s jurisdiction. The Council currently has system management plans in place for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, Spawning Special Management Zones, and the Oculina Experimental Closed Area. Additional areas will be added, with the goal to eventually have a single system management plan in place for all managed areas.

The System Management Plan Workgroup will be responsible for drafting reports on the recommendations for size, configuration, and regulations for managed areas; discussing research, outreach, and enforcement efforts; and commenting on research priorities. The workgroup will meet two times per year. Travel and per diem expenses will be covered if in-person meetings are held.

The Council is soliciting applicants for the following positions on the System Management Plan Workgroup:

Advisory Panel and Workgroup Applicants

Application forms for individual advisory panels and the SMP Workgroup are available online from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/. For questions about the advisory panel seats please contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call the Council office at 843/571-4366. Questions regarding the SMP Workgroup should be directed to Dr. Chip Collier at chip.collier@safmc.net or by calling the Council office.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available from the “About Us” section of the Council’s website at www.safmc.net or through the Council office.

Advisory panel and workgroup members will be selected during the Council’s March 5 -9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Applications must be received by February 9, 2018 for consideration by the Council during the March meeting.

To view the release from the SAFMC in its entirety click here.