March 1, 2017 — The following has been released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting Location:

• Westin Jekyll Island
• 110 Ocean Way
• Jekyll Island, GA 31527
• Phone: Reservations: 888/627-8316 or 912/635-4545

Mackerel Cobia Committee:

The committee will receive an update on the development of an interstate fishery management plan for Atlantic cobia by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and discuss the 2017 recreational fishing season and closure.

NOTE: The Council approved measures during its September 2016 meeting through Framework Amendment 4 to help reduce the likelihood of a closure due to reaching the annual catch limit, including reducing the recreational bag limit to 1 per person/day with a vessel limit of 6 fish/day, whichever is more restrictive.  The measures are currently under Secretarial review. NOAA Fisheries is soliciting public comment on Framework Amendment 4 through March 23, 2017.  Read the Fishery Bulletin for details and to submit comments.

Snapper Grouper Committee:

The committee will review public input from hearing/scoping meetings held in January and February will be reviewed for: 1) options for red snapper and recreational reporting in Snapper Grouper Amendment 43; 2) the Council’s Visioning Amendments with management options for both recreational and commercial fisheries; and 3) public hearing comments on proposed allocations of yellowtail snapper. The Committee will also review approaches for a limited entry system affecting federal for-hire permits in the snapper grouper fishery.