Saving Seafood

The South Atlantic Bite – Newsworthy Notes – November 3, 2021

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

Proposed Changes to Atlantic King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel Management

Register Now – Public Hearings via webinar November 15 and 16

There was good news for Atlantic migratory group King Mackerel as the most recent stock assessment update (SEDAR 38) shows the stock continues to not be overfished or undergoing overfishing. Atlantic group King Mackerel are managed in federal waters from the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line in Florida north to the New York/Connecticut/Rhode Island state line.

Based on the latest assessment update, annual catch limits, optimum yield, and allocations for Atlantic King Mackerel must be revised and these additional measures are being considered through Amendment 34 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan:

•Increase the daily Atlantic King Mackerel bag limit in federal waters off the east coast of Florida to 3 fish per person (currently 2 fish to match FL state regulations)

•Decrease the minimum size limit for Atlantic King Mackerel for both recreational and commercial sectors from 24-inches fork length to 22-inches fork length

•Modify the recreational requirement for Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel to be landed with heads and fins in tact (options to allow retention of cut/damaged fish due to shark predation)

Public hearing documents, including a video presentation and an online public comment form are available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Register now for a public hearing webinar and receive email reminders!

•Monday, November 15, 2021 at 6 PM

•Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6 PM

Written comments are due by 5 p.m. on November 17th.

Reminder! Apply Now for Open Seats on the Council’s Advisory Panels and System Management Plan Workgroup

Applications due November 12th

The South Atlantic Council is currently seeking applicants for open seats on several of its advisory panels or to serve as a fishing representative on the System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The SMP Workgroup addresses the needs of managed areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic. Advisory panel members provide recommendations for the Council’s consideration at the grassroots level. They provide advice on trends in fisheries, environmental concerns relative to fishery ecosystems, enforcement issues, and management impacts on fishermen and fishing communities.

See the news release for details, including a list of open seats. Application forms are available online and due by Friday, November 12, 2021 for consideration by the Council during its December meeting.

SAFMC Seminar Series

Red Porgy Distribution

The Council’s seminar series continues this month with a presentation scheduled for Tuesday, November 9th from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Red Porgy and changes in distribution of the stock. The presentation will be given by staff from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and is part of an ongoing seminar series hosted by the Council, featuring scientific studies relevant to fisheries in federal waters of the South Atlantic.

The seminars are open to the public and a Q&A session will be held following the presentation. The presentations are for informational purposes only and no management actions will be taken. Registration is required.

Register now and receive an email reminder for the seminar.

New Review of the Atlantic Shark Fishery Includes Section on Depredation

Webinar for the Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE) scheduled for December 8, 2021.

Does this photo look familiar? Take note: NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Division (HMS), the agency responsible for shark management in the U.S., recently released a draft of their Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE). While there are no proposed changes to current regulations or management measures associated with SHARE, the document does include a section on shark depredation. Concerns about shark depredation have continued to increase from fishermen along the Atlantic coast and members of the South Atlantic Council have provided letters to NOAA Fisheries outlining those concerns in the past.

NOAA Fisheries HMS Division has scheduled a webinar and conference on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. to review SHARE and allow public comment. “We encourage anyone affected or otherwise interested in the general management of the Atlantic shark fishery to review the draft document,” said Karyl Brewster-Geisz, HMS Coordinator with NOAA Fisheries.

Additional information, including webinar registration information, a copy of the draft document, and instructions for providing written comment is available from the NOAA Fisheries website. Written comments are being accepted until January 3, 2022. Questions? Contact Karyl Brewster-Geisz at (301) 427-8503.

Additional Snippets:

How Does Catching Fish Support Fisheries Science?

AFS Symposium offers unique opportunity for fishermen to tune in

Anglers play an important role in providing scientists and managers with valuable data about the state of our fisheries. As new forms of electronic reporting come online, providing high resolution data that could barely have been imagined just a few decades ago, anglers are becoming ever more important to fisheries research.

See how anglers are making a difference in fisheries across the U.S. and Canada by joining a symposium on Sunday, November 7, 2021 for a live-stream event highlighting projects ranging from Florida’s Trophy Catch program to how anglers have been contributing for over 20 years to the management of sturgeon on the Fraser River in British Columbia. The live-stream event is open to the public and anglers are encouraged to participate. Register now. The Symposium is part of the American Fisheries Society’s annual conference taking place in Baltimore, MD November 6-10, 2021. For more information about the symposium contact Sean Simmons at 250-613-7727 or email sean@anglersatlas.com.

Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful – NOAA Soliciting Public Comment

Public comment sessions scheduled for November 8th and 16th

President Biden has challenged Americans to join together in an inclusive and locally led effort to conserve at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. On May 6, 2021, the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality released a preliminary report on Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful. Learn more about the report and NOAA’s efforts to gather public input on this initiative, including links to virtual listening sessions scheduled for Monday, November 8th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Tuesday, November 16th from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. https://www.noaa.gov/america-the-beautiful.

Heavy Lift Barge Departs Golden Ray Site After Yearlong Wreck Removal

For those of you following the saga of the 656-foot Golden Ray cargo vessel salvage, after more than two years of salvage work, the port community of Brunswick, Georgia has finally recovered its scenic seaside view! The giant heavy lift barge used as part of the salvage effort departed St. Simons Sound earlier this week, bringing its long tenure at the wreck site of the Golden Ray to an end. Read more from the Maritime Executive newsletter. See how GA DNR’s Coastal Resources Division used parts of the salvaged ship, including the propeller, to enhance artificial reefs off the coast of Georgia.

The Queen of Kings…King Mackerel That Is

Today, more and more women are becoming a part of the competitive landscape. The world of fishing is no exception. See how 65-year-old Brenda Cooper of Topsail Island, NC is breaking stereotypes as part of the Back-Lash Fishing Team in this recent article by Captain Tim Wilson with Saltwater Angler online.

Mark Your Calendar

Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available. Register early and receive email reminders as the meeting date(s) approach!

November 9, 2021

SAFMC Seminar Series – Red Porgy Distribution
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Webinar Registration

November 15 and 16, 2021 at 6 p.m.

King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel Public Scoping Meetings
(Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 34)
Monday, November 15 – Webinar Registration
Tuesday, November 16 – Webinar Registration

November 18-19, 2021

Outreach and Communications Advisory Panel Meeting
Webinar Registration

December 6-10, 2021

SAFMC Meeting
Beaufort Hotel
Beaufort, NC

 

SAFMC September 2021 Meeting to be Held via Webinar

August 30, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and increasing transmission rates in the region, the September 13-17, 2021meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be held via webinar. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Charleston, South Carolina.

Briefing book materials for the September meeting are now available from the Council’s website along with an online public comment form. The meeting materials include agendas and overviews for each committee meeting throughout the week along with meetings of the Full Council. Presentations and supporting documents are also included.

Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

  • Establishment of an allowable fishing area for the Rock Shrimp fishery along the western boundary of the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10)
  • Management measures for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, Snowy Grouper, and Yellowtail Snapper
  • Catch level recommendations for Red Snapper
  • Information on the current “two-for-one” federal permit requirement for the commercial snapper grouper fishery

The meeting webinar begins Monday, September 13, 2021 with a meeting of the Full Council at 1 p.m. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, September 17th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. Public hearing comments will also be accepted for Snapper Grouper Amendment 50 addressing proposed management measures for Red Porgy.

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, the online public comment form and additional meeting information are all now available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

The South Atlantic Bite – Newsworthy Notes – August 4, 2021

August 5, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

SAVE The Date – South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting
September 13-17, 2021
Charleston, SC

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are currently scheduled to meet at the Town and Country Inn in Charleston, South Carolina from September 13-17, 2021.

Council members will address a broad range of issues affecting federal fishery management during the week-long meeting including:

  • Changes to an allowable fishing area for the Rock Shrimp fishery within the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10)
  • Management measures for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, Snowy Grouper, and Yellowtail Snapper
  • Catch level recommendations for Red Snapper
  • Evaluation of the current “two-for-one” federal permit requirement for the commercial snapper grouper fishery

A public hearing for measures proposed for Red Porgy will be held during the meeting. Meeting information, including the agenda and overview, public comment form, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council’s website two weeks prior to the meeting. Public comment will also be accepted during the meeting.

Note: The Council will continue to monitor COVID-19 and CDC guidelines relative to holding the meeting in-person. If necessary, the meeting may be held via webinar. An announcement will be made from the Council office regarding any changes.

Help Us Improve the SAFMC Website

Work continues on the redesign of the Council’s website to improve user experience and provide you ease of access to the information you need most. Having input along the way will help us to better understand how content on the site can be grouped to better serve you.

Please take a few minutes to provide your input via this navigation exercise: https://s1u2yj8z.optimalworkshop.com/treejack/f7536837-0. Input will be accepted until August 18th, so click now!

Questions? Contact Cameron Rhodes at Cameron.Rhodes@safmc.net.

Can Underwater Cameras on Remotely Operated Vehicles Measure the Size of Reef Fish?
New research shows how effective the cameras can be

Offshore bottom fishermen know that reef fish communities along the Atlantic coast and northern Gulf of Mexico contain a wide variety of ecologically and economically important fishes, including snappers, groupers, triggerfishes, and jacks. Several aspects of these fishes’ life history are often related to their length, including age, maturity, and egg production.

Collecting length information, in addition to identifying which species and how many are present at each reef, can provide insights helpful for stock assessments as well as assessing an ecosystem’s condition and productivity.

A recent blog post from N.C. Sea Grant’s Hook, Line & Science online series provides details on how scientists are using GoPro underwater cameras to obtain accurate length estimates.You can even watch an underwater video from the GoPro’s point of view!

Additional Snippets:

National Academies Completes Draft Report on Recreational Fishing Data, Strategies to Support In-Season Management

A recent study completed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine provides recommendations that could improve in-season management tools for recreational fisheries. The draft report, Data and Management Strategies for Recreational Fisheries with Annual Catch Limits is now available, providing recommendations for the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). Have questions about recreational fishing data collection or estimation? Email Dave Bard at david.bard@noaa.gov or visit: countmyfish.noaa.gov.

Congressmen Huffman, Case Introduce the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act – Legislation to Update Federal Fisheries Management

Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee and subcommittee member Ed Case (D-Honolulu) have introduced the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, legislation to update and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary law governing federal fisheries management and conservation that has made the U.S. a global leader in sustainable fisheries. See the press release to learn more and to access a one page summary of the bill and the bill in its entirety.

Four Decades of Fresh Fish

August 2021 marks the 40th anniversary for Hull’s Seafood Market and Restaurant in Ormond Beach, Florida. Jimmy Hull, owner of Hull’s Seafood and Chair of the Council’s Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, was recently featured in an article in the Ormond Beach Observer, telling the story of how a small boat at the age of 14 would spark a love of fishing that grew into a successful business through dedication and hard work.

Mark Your Calendar

Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available. Register early and receive email reminders as the meeting date(s) approach!

August 17, 2021
Allocation Decision Tree Blueprint Meeting
Meeting details
Webinar registration

September 13-17, 2021
SAFMC September Meeting
Charleston, SC

Briefing Book Materials Now Available for SAFMC Meeting June 14-18 , 2021

June 1, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting materials for the June 14-18, 2021 meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are now available from the Council’s website. The meeting will be held via webinar.

The briefing book materials include agendas and overviews for each committee meeting throughout the week along with meetings of the Full Council. Presentations and supporting documents are also included.

Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

  • Dolphin and Wahoo (along the entire Atlantic coast)
  • King Mackerel
  • Red Porgy
  • Stock assessments for Red Snapper, Gag, Tilefish and Yellowtail Snapper

The meeting agenda also includes continued review of a proposed Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10) and other management issues.

The meeting webinar begins Monday, June 14, 2021 with a meeting of the Full Council in open session at 1:30 p.m. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, June 18th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. The Council is scheduled to approve Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan for Secretarial review during the meeting week. Snapper Grouper Amendment 10 (Red Porgy) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 34 (Atlantic King Mackerel) are scheduled to be approved for public hearings. If approved, the hearings will be held later this summer.

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, the online public comment form and additional meeting information are all now available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for June 14-18 , 2021

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Register now to attend the next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council scheduled for June 14-18, 2021 via webinar. During the week-long meeting Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

  • Dolphin and Wahoo (along the entire Atlantic coast)
  • King Mackerel
  • Red Porgy
  • Stock assessments for Red Snapper, Gag, Tilefish and Yellowtail Snapper

The meeting agenda also includes continued review of a proposed Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10) and other management issues.

The meeting begins Monday, June 14, 2021 with a meeting of the Full Council in open session starting at 1:30 p.m. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, June 18th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. The Council is scheduled to approve Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan for Secretarial review during the meeting week. Snapper Grouper Amendment 10 (Red Porgy) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 34 (Atlantic King Mackerel) are scheduled to be approved for public hearings. If approved, the hearings will be held later this summer.

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/.

Reminder: SAFMC Advisory Panel Seats Open for Applicants

April 27, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The deadline to apply for open seats on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s advisory panels is rapidly approaching! The Council is soliciting applicants for several open seats on the Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel as well as the Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel, Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and Law Enforcement Advisory Panel.

The Council’s advisory panels inform and guide the Council in developing federal fishery management plans and plan amendments. Management issues on the table for 2021 include climate vulnerability and impacts relative to fisheries, development of the Council’s Habitat Blueprint, King Mackerel catch levels and management adjustments, and modifications to management of Snowy Grouper, Yellowtail Snapper, Red Porgy, Red Snapper and several other species in the Snapper Grouper management complex. Members of the Council’s Law Enforcement Advisory Panel will provide recommendations specific to enforcement issues affecting these and other fisheries.

Applications are now being solicited for the following positions:

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
(1) Florida Seat, (1) South Carolina Seat, (1) Georgia Seat, and (2) At-Large Seats

Law Enforcement Advisory Panel
(1) Recreational Seat and (1) Commercial Seat

Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
(6) Open Seats

Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
(1) North Carolina Seat and (1) Florida Seat

The Council will consider applicants during its June 14-18, 2021 meeting scheduled via webinar. Additional details, including links to the online application forms are available from the Council’s website. Questions? Contact Kim Iverson at kim.iverson@safmc.net or 843/302-8440.

SAFMC Chooses Preferred Management Measures for Dolphin and Wahoo Fisheries

March 5, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

During its meeting this week, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council chose preferred management alternatives affecting Dolphin and Wahoo harvested in federal waters along the entire Atlantic coast. The proposed measures, as outlined in Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan, would reduce the current recreational vessel limit for Dolphin from 60 fish to 48 fish per vessel while maintaining the 10 fish per person/day bag limit and reduce the daily bag limit for Wahoo from 2 fish to 1 fish per person/day. Reductions in harvest are intended to help prevent seasonal closures that could be imposed should catch levels be exceeded.

Regional differences in the Dolphin and Wahoo fisheries became the focus of discussion as members of the Council reviewed concerns expressed during public hearings held in late January. Fishermen in South Florida and the Keys, including charter captains, have expressed concerns about catching fewer Dolphin and encountering smaller fish over the past few years and have requested the Council take action to reduce harvest. Further north, charter captains and other fishermen have raised objections to the proposed reductions, noting the importance of maintaining higher vessel limits for trips that require much farther runs offshore.

“We’ve heard from constituents and advisory panel members and believe their observations. Looking at the various management scenarios for both Dolphin and Wahoo, the Council compromised to reduce catches while addressing concerns of fishermen dependent on these valuable recreational fisheries,” explained Council Chair Mel Bell. “There are many variables affecting these migratory fisheries, including international harvest, environmental conditions, and other factors. We don’t have a clear sense of what the problem is and we’re being more preventative than curative at this point,” said Bell.

Amendment 10 also includes updates to annual catch limits, modifications to sector allocations, and changes to accountability measures designed to ensure the catch levels are not exceeded for both Dolphin and Wahoo. Proposed management measures would also allow properly permitted commercial fishing vessels with trap, pot or buoy gear onboard to retain up to 500 pounds (gutted weight) of Dolphin and remove the Operator Card requirement for for-hire and commercial fishermen in the Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo fishery. After considering recommendations from its advisory panels and public comment, the Council removed an action that would have allowed filleting Dolphin at sea on for-hire vessels in federal waters north of the NC/VA border. The Council is scheduled to approve Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 for review by the Secretary of Commerce during its June meeting.

Other Business:

Red Snapper
NOAA Fisheries provided an update on the recreational Red Snapper Season for 2021. Due to delays from COVID-19, some landings data from 2020 are not yet available. Those data are expected in May 2021. NOAA Fisheries intends to announce the 2021 season as soon as data are available and evaluated. If a season is allowed, the recreational season for Red Snapper begins on the second Friday in July. The number of fishing days is determined by NOAA Fisheries based on catch estimates from the previous season. The recreational season was open for four days in 2020 and five days in 2019.

A new stock assessment for Red Snapper will be reviewed by the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) during its meeting in late April. The Council will receive an overview of the assessment and the SSC’s recommendations during its June meeting. The Council discussed management options for considering the stock assessment results in setting the 2021 catch levels and requested that staff determine if an abbreviated framework can be used to adjust catch levels and if so, prepare such an amendment for Council review at their June 2021 meeting. The Council will also move forward with a plan amendment to modify annual catch limits, allocations, and other management measures necessary as a result of the stock assessment.

King Mackerel, Red Porgy, Snowy Grouper and Rock Shrimp Fishery Access Area
The Council continued work on management measures addressing Atlantic migratory group King Mackerel to address the recent stock assessment update that found the stock is not overfished or undergoing overfishing. The measures, originally included in Framework Amendment 10 and now Amendment 34 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan, would modify annual catch limits and sector allocations, increase the recreational bag limit and possession limits off the coast of Florida, reduce the minimum size limits for both commercial and recreational sectors, and allow retention of “cut off” King and Spanish Mackerel by recreational fishermen as is allowed for the commercial sector. Public hearings on the amendment will be scheduled following the Council’s June meeting.

Proposed management measures for Red Porgy to end overfishing and rebuild the stock continued to be reviewed in Amendment 50 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, with public hearings scheduled this summer. The Council reviewed recent stock assessment results for Snowy Grouper and recommendations from its SSC and will begin developing an amendment to address management measures. The Council also approved Coral Amendment 10 for public hearings to be held prior to the Council’s June meeting. The amendment addresses a Shrimp Fishery Access Area for rock shrimp along the northern extension of the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida.

Additional information about this week’s meeting, including a meeting Story Map, 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 currently scheduled for June 14-18, 2021 in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

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/.

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.

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 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/.

Reminder: SAFMC Seeks Input on Proposed Red Porgy Management Measures; Shrimp Fishery Access in Deepwater Coral Habitat Area

February 2, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Public scoping meetings begin this week via webinar as members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council solicit comment on measures proposed for the Red Porgy fishery in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and the east coast of Florida. The Council is also soliciting public input on an action to establish a rock shrimp fishery access area in the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern, a deepwater coral area located off the east coast of Florida.

Provide your comments on proposed management measures directly to Council members via webinar during the scoping meetings or review the scoping materials and provide written comment using online comment forms. Details are available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Red Porgy (Snapper Grouper Amendment 50)

A recent stock assessment determined the Red Porgy stock is experiencing overfishingand the stock continues to be overfished despite a rebuilding plan being in place. Significant reductions in harvest are proposed in Amendment 50 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The amendment also includes measures to adjust catch levels and allocations based on revisions to recreational estimates from NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).

Red Porgy Public Scoping Webinars:

Learn more and access the online comment form at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Rock Shrimp Fishery Access

(Coral Amendment 10)

The amendment contains a single action to establish a rock shrimp fishery access area along the eastern edge of the northern extension of the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern. The action would provide limited access to traditional fishing grounds.

Shrimp Fishery Access Scoping Webinars:

Learn more and access the online comment form at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.