Saving Seafood

Mark Your Calendar – SAFMC Meeting December 2-6, 2019

November 7, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold its next meeting December 2-6, 2019 at the Hotel Ballast (Hilton Riverside), 301 North Water Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28401. The meeting week begins on Monday at 1:30 p.m. with a series of committee meetings and concludes with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday.

A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, December 4th beginning at 4:00 PM. An online comment form will be available for written comments, and the meeting will be available via webinar as it occurs.

Agenda Highlights:

  • Red Snapper – The Council is considering actions to eliminate the current three-day minimum number of fishing days required for the red snapper seasons (recreational or commercial) to open, and to change the start date of the commercial fishing season to May 1st from the current 2nd Monday in July. The Council is scheduled to approve the measures in Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 33 at this meeting.
  • Mackerel Cobia – The Council is scheduled to approve measures affecting king mackerel commercial trip limits in season two (Framework Amendment 8). The Mackerel Cobia Committee will also discuss accountability measures for the Spanish mackerel fishery.
  • Citizen Science – The Council’s Citizen Science Committee will receive updates on the pilot projects SAFMC Scamp Release and FISHstory, review research priorities, discuss program evaluation, and more.
  • Dolphin Wahoo – The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will continue to discuss management actions and alternatives for both dolphin and wahoo in draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.

Additional Information:

Additional meeting information will be available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/ as it becomes available. Briefing book materials, including the meeting agenda, committee agendas/overviews, and the public comment form will be available on November 15, 2019.

South Atlantic Update Newsletter

November 6, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

  • On Point – The Council Chair’s Perspective
    • Council Chair Jessica McCawley gives a shout out to those encouraging best fishing practices and notes the value of public input and guidance from the Council’s advisory panels in the fishery management process. Read More.
  • Council Approves Management Measures to Help Improve Survival of Released Fish
    • Requirements for descending devices and other best practices have received support from the fishing community. Approved by the Council in September, the new regulations are designed to improve survival of released fish. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, it would be the first time such measures have been required in federal waters in the U.S. Read More.
  • Changes Proposed for Red Snapper Seasons in the South Atlantic Region
    • In December, Council members are scheduled to approve measures to remove the current three-day minimum number of fishing days required for opening both commercial and recreational red snapper seasons, and change the start date of the commercial fishery to May 1st. Learn More.
  • Council Selects John Carmichael as New Executive Director
    • John Carmichael, the Council’s Deputy Director for Science and Statistics has been selected to serve as the Council’s new Executive Director following Gregg Waugh’s retirement in mid-December. Learn More.
  • From the Executive Director’s Desk
    • Executive Director Gregg Waugh bids farewell and acknowledges the fishermen, Council members, state partners, staff, and others that have been such an important part of his nearly 40-year career with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Read more.
  • December 2-6, 2019 Council Meeting Highlights
    • The Council’s next meeting will take place December 2-6, 2019 in the port city of Wilmington, NC. Agenda items include proposed changes to the red snapper fishing season, management options for dolphin and wahoo, Atlantic king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, Citizen Science Program, and other topics. Meeting Information.
  • FISHstory Citizen Science Project to Launch in Early 2020
    • If a picture is worth a thousand words, what stories can a black and white photograph tell? Step back in time to the docks of Daytona Beach, Florida from the 1940s-70s as a participant in the Council’s latest citizen science project, FISHstory (pronounced like history). Learn More – and see how you can get involved!

Reminder! Proposed SMZ Designations in NC and SC – Scoping Meetings Begin Today at 6 PM

October 28, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently seeking public comment proposed changes affecting federal fisheries management, including designating specified artificial reefs off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina as Special Management Zones to restrict the types of gear that can be used to harvest snapper grouper species. The designations are being considered at the request of each state’s marine resources agencies. Public comment is also being solicited on proposed changes to the trip limit for the commercial king mackerel fishery in the Southern Zone and measures to modify transit provisions for shrimp vessels.

Learn more about the proposed measures with summary documents and video presentations, provide written comment online, and participate in the webinars!

Public Scoping – Designation of Special Management Zones in NC and SC
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 34
October 28-30, 2019 6:00 PM
Webinars with Listening Stations in NC

The draft regulatory amendment contains actions to:

  • Establish 30 Special Management Zones (SMZs) at permitted artificial reef sites in federal waters off the coast of North Carolina. Within the SMZs, harvest of snapper grouper species by spear would be limited to the recreational bag limit.
  • Establish four additional SMZs at permitted artificial reef sites in federal waters off the coast of South Carolina. Harvest of snapper grouper species would only be allowed with handline, rod and reel, and spear (without powerheads) and harvest would be limited to the recreational bag limits.

Webinars with Listening Stations for Proposed SMZ Designations
Monday, October 28
Register for Webinar
Listening Station:
Dare County Administration Bld., Manteo, NC

Tuesday, October 29
Register for Webinar
Listening Station:
NC Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office, Morehead City, NC

Wednesday, October 30
Register for Webinar
Listening Station:
NC Division of Marine Fisheries Southern District Office, Wilmington, NC

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 34 Summary Document, video presentation, and the Online Comment Form are available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Register now to participate in the public scoping meetings via webinar or participate in-person at designated listening stations in North Carolina. Details are available from the Council’s website.

Public Hearings via Webinar – Modifications to Commercial Southern Zone King Mackerel Season 2 Trip Limits
Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment 8
October 29-30, 2019 5:00 PM

Rhe draft amendment would modify the trip limit for the commercial king mackerel fishery in the Southern Zone (NC/SC line to Miami-Dade/Monroe Co. boundary) during Season 2 (October 1st to the end of February). Access the Public Hearing Summary, view the video, submit comments online and register now to participate in the scheduled webinars. https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Tuesday, October 29
Webinar Registration

Wednesday, October 30
Webinar Registration

Public Scoping via Webinar – Shrimp Vessel Transit Provisions
Amendment 11 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan
November 5 & 7, 2019 7:00 PM
Webinars

The draft amendment proposes modifications to current transit provisions during cold-weather closures of the fishery. Additional information is available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Tuesday, November 5
Webinar Registration

Thursday, November 7
Webinar Registration

SAFMC to Hold Scoping Webinars on Designation of Special Management Zones in NC and SC

October 23, 2019 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled scoping webinars and is soliciting public comments on potential designation of special management zones (SMZs) in federal waters off North Carolina and South Carolina (Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 34). The draft regulatory amendment contains actions to:

Designate 30 artificial reefs in federal waters off North Carolina as SMZs

  • Prohibit use of efficient gear (e.g., bandit, pots, sink nets, buoy gear) on those reefs
  • Restrict harvest of snapper grouper species with spear on those reefs to the recreational bag limit

Designate 4 artificial reefs in federal waters off South Carolina as SMZs

  • Prohibit use of efficient gear (e.g., bandit, pots, sink nets, buoy gear) on those reefs
  • All harvest of snapper grouper species on those reefs would be limited to the recreational bag limit

Three scoping webinars will be held on October 28, 29, and 30 at 6:00 p.m. Registration is required:

Individuals can also participate in the webinars in-person at designated listening stations in North Carolina. Details are available here.

The Scoping Summary Document, video presentation, and the Online Comment Form are now available from the South Atlantic Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

Recreational Closure for Red Grouper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on September 25, 2019

September 23, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

  • The recreational harvest of red grouper in South Atlantic federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, September 25, 2019.
    Recreational harvest will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 1, 2020.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

  • The 2019 recreational catch limit is 88,000 pounds whole weight.
  • Recreational landings have exceeded the recreational catch limit; therefore, recreational harvest must close.

DURING THE CLOSURE:

  • During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits of red grouper in or from federal waters are zero.
  • The prohibition on harvest or possession of red grouper applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at:
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#_top.

Reminder – SAFMC Meeting Next Week in Charleston, SC

September 11, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet next week in Charleston to discuss a variety of federal fishery management issues affecting fisheries off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east coast of Florida.

  • Meeting Location: Town and Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.
  • The meeting week includes a series of committee meetings and concludes with a meeting of the Full Council. Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public and available via webinar as it occurs (see list of links below). Briefing book materials, including agendas, overviews, and discussion documents are available from the Council’s website.

Agenda Highlights:

  • Red Snapper – The Snapper Grouper Committee will review public hearing comments and continue discussion of alternatives for modifying the start dates, days of the week, and minimum number of fishing days required for opening the red snapper seasons.
  • Best Fishing Practices and Use of Powerhead Gear – The Snapper Grouper Committee will continue to discuss proposed requirements for the use of descending devices, venting tools, and circle hooks, as well as changes to restrictions on powerhead gear. The Council is scheduled to approve Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 29 for formal Secretarial review at this meeting.
  • Dolphin Wahoo – The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will continue to discuss management options for both dolphin and wahoo to include in draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.

Additional Information:

  • Wednesday, September 18 – Formal Public Comment 4:00 PM
  • Online Public Comment
    • Want to submit a comment on an issue? Read what others are saying?Provide comments on agenda items via the Council’s Online Comment Form. Comments may also be viewed online as they are posted. Additional details are available from the September Council Meeting page.
  • Meeting via Webinar – Listen to the meeting and view presentations via webinar each day as the meeting occurs. Registration required. Click the links below to register ahead for each day and receive an email reminder. Note – on Monday of the meeting week Council members receive training and the Personnel Committee meets in closed session. Thus webinar coverage begins on Tuesday.

Commercial Closure for Red Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on August 30, 2019

August 27, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

  • The commercial harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 30, 2019. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of red snapper is prohibited.
  • All harvest or possession of red snapper in or from federal waters is now prohibited, as the recreational fishing season is also closed for 2019.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

  • The 2019 commercial catch limit is 124,815 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit. According to the accountability measure, harvest should close to prevent the annual catch limit from being exceeded.

AFTER THE CLOSURE:

  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for red snapper does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. on August 30, 2019, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • Unless specified otherwise, commercial harvest will open on July 13, 2020, for the 2020 commercial fishing season.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov.

SAFMC Meeting September 16-20, 2019 in Charleston, SC

August 22, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold its next meeting September 16-20, 2019 at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407. The meeting week begins with a series of committee meetings and concludes with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday.

A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, September 18th beginning at 4:00 PM. An online comment form will be available for written comments, and the meeting will be available via webinar as it occurs.

Agenda Highlights:

  • Red Snapper – The Council is considering alternatives to modify the start dates, days of the week, and minimum number of fishing days required for opening the red snapper seasons. Public hearing comments received in August will be reviewed as the Snapper Grouper Committee continues discussion of Regulatory Amendment 33.
  • Best Fishing Practices and Use of Powerhead Gear – The Council is scheduled to approve Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 29 addressing best fishing practices including requirements for descending devices and modifications to current hook regulations. The amendment would also modify restrictions on powerhead gear.
  • Dolphin Wahoo – The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will continue to discuss management actions and alternatives for both dolphin and wahoo to include in draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan.

Additional Information:

Additional meeting information will be available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/ as it becomes available. Briefing book materials, including the meeting agenda, committee agendas/overviews, and the public comment form will be available on August 30, 2019.

Federal red snapper rules getting another look

August 14, 2019 — If you want a change in red snapper annual catch limits, if you’re itching for extended seasons or changing bag or trip limits, you’re out of luck. But some smaller changes could be coming as the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council examines red snapper regulations for the coming year.

Major changes, like significant changes to the season or catch limits, won’t be possible until the conclusion of the next stock assessment, which isn’t scheduled to start until 2021. Currently, however there are four actions proposed. Myra Brouwer, a fisheries scientist with the SAFMC, is leading webinars on the actions this week, at the end of which people can ask questions. There are webinars scheduled for this evening and Thursday evening.

“The first (action) would remove that minimum number of days for both (recreational and commercial) seasons, for each of those seasons to open,” Brouwer said during Monday’s webinar. “The second action would modify the start day for the recreational season. Action 3 would revise the days of the week that recreational harvest is allowed during an open season, and Action 4 would modify the start date for the commercial season.”

Read the full story at The Brunswick News

Reminder – Public Hearings for Red Snapper Season Begin Today at 6 PM

August 12, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on proposed changes to regulations for red snapper affecting how the current limited openings should be handled. Public hearings via webinar begin at 6 PM today and continue this week. Listening stations will also be available at various locations. The proposed changes included in Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 33 would:

  • Remove the minimum number of days for the South Atlantic red snapper seasons
  • Modify the start date for the recreational red snapper season
  • Revise the days of the week recreational harvest of red snapper would be allowed during an open season
  • Modify the start date of the commercial season

Note that the proposed changes would not extend recreational or commercial seasons, increase the annual catch limits for red snapper, or change the recreational bag limit or commercial trip limit.

Public Hearings via Webinar with Listening Stations

The webinars begin tonight at 6 PM with listening stations in Murrells Inlet, SC and Jacksonville, FL. Members of the public are invited to attend the public hearings via webinar or participate via a listening station and provide comment. Webinar registration is required. Council representatives will be in attendance at the various listening stations.

Additional hearings via webinar will be held this week, all beginning at 6 PM. Listening stations will be available in St. Augustine, FL, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Brunswick, GA, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Merritt Island, FL, and Morehead City, NC.

A Public Hearing Summary Document, Presentation, and Story Map along with details for the scheduled listening stations and registration links for the webinars are available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Written comments are also being accepted and may be submitted using the online public comment form, also available from the website. Comments are due by August 16, 2019.