Saving Seafood

SAFMC Reminder: Public Hearing/Scoping Meeting Series Begins this Week

August 1, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Tonight (August 1)

  • Atlantic Cobia (GA to NY)
  • 6:00 PM
  • Public Hearing and Q&A
  • via Webinar

Tuesday, August 2  

  • Mutton Snapper
  • 6:00 PM
  • Public Hearing and Q&A
  • via Webinar

Wednesday, August 3

  • Atlantic Cobia
  • 6:00 PM
  • In-Person Public Hearing
  • Crowne Plaza Hotel
  • North Charleston, SC

Thursday, August 4

  • Public Scoping
  • Allocations for Dolphin and Yellowtail Snapper
  • 6:00 PM
  • via Webinar

Registration required for webinars – it’s easy! Click here and scroll down the page for registration links.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Public Hearing and Scoping Meetings 

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between August 1 and August 17 to collect public input on proposed management measures for several species managed by the Council. See below for an overview.

For details on meeting locations, webinar registration, amendment documents/presentations, new interactive story maps, and instructions on how to submit written comments, visit the Council’s website –

Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

Written comments are due by 5:00 PM on August 19, 2016.

New York Tautog PID Public Hearing Date Changed from October 1 to September 28

September 15, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE REVISES THE MEETING DATE OF NEW YORK’S PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAUTOG PUBLIC INFORMATION DOCUMENT. THE HEARING WILL NOW BE CONDUCTED ON SEPTEMBER 28TH FROM 6 TO 8 PM. THE MEETING LOCATION REMAINS THE SAME.

ASMFC Releases Tautog Public Information Document for Public Comment

States Schedule Public Hearings for late September/early October 

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Tautog Management Board is seeking public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog. The PID responds to the findings of the 2015 benchmark stock assessment which, unlike previous coastwide assessments, evaluated stock status regionally to reflect differences in life history characteristics and harvest patterns. Based on its endorsed regional approach, the assessment also recommended associated biological reference points to guide management at the regional scale. Since tautog are currently managed on a coastwide basis, the Board initiated the PID to consider a new regional management approach.

As the first step in the development of an amendment, the PID seeks to gather information concerning the tautog fishery and to provide an opportunity for the public to identify major issues and alternatives relative to the management of this species. Input received at the start of the amendment development process can have a major influence on the final outcome of the amendment. Issues presented in the PID include FMP goals and objectives, adaptive management, monitoring requirements and illegal fishing of tautog.  In addition, in order to streamline the development of the plan amendment, the PID seeks specific input on the selection of regional stock areas for management use.

The states of Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the PID. The details of those hearings follow.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30 PM

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Vineyard Conference Room

185 MacArthur Drive 

New Bedford, Massachusetts

Contact: David Pierce at 617.626.1532

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Wednesday, September 30th from 6 – 9 PM

University of Rhode Island Bay Campus

Corless Auditorium

South Ferry Road

Narragansett Rhode Island

Contact: Jason McNamee at 401.423.1943

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Thursday, September 24th at 7 PM

CT DEEP Marine Headquarters

Boating Education Center (Rear Building)

333 Ferry Road

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Contact: David Simpson at 860.434.6043

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Monday, September 28th at 6 – 8 PM

Bureau of Marine Resources

205 North Belle Mead Road

East Setauket, New York

Contact: Steve Heins at 631.444.0435

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

Tuesday, September 22nd from 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Ocean County Administration Building

Public Hearing Room 119

101 Hooper Avenue

Toms River, New Jersey

Contact: Russ Allen at 609.748.2020

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Thursday, October 8th at 6 PM

DNREC Auditorium

89 Kings Highway

Dover, Delaware

Contact: John Clark at 302.739.9914 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Wednesday, October 7th at 5 – 6:30 PM

Ocean Pines Library Conference Room

11107 Cathell Road

Ocean Pines, Maryland

Contact: Michael Luisi at 410.260.8341

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Tuesday, October 6th at 6 PM

2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor

Newport News, Virginia

Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757.247.2248

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/TautogAm1PID_PublicComment_Aug2015.pdf and can also be accessed on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on October 23, 2015 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org (Subject line: Tautog PID). For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, at aharp@asmfc.orgor 703.842.0740.