May 9, 2024 — The following was released by South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled several port meetingsto gather stakeholder perspectives on the future of the king and Spanish mackerel fisheries. Three New England-focused meetings will be held via webinar on May 14, 15, and 16, 2024. An in-person port meeting will be held on June 4, 2024 in conjunction with a meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Council in Riverhead, New York.

Background: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council manages King and Spanish Mackerel along the Atlantic coast in federal waters from Florida through New York. Members of the South Atlantic Council’s Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel requested the Council hold a series of port meetings to gather more information and take a focused look at the fisheries given changing environmental conditions that alter fishery dynamics. The informal port meetings allow stakeholders to share their insights and help determine the future of these fisheries.

Port Meeting Schedule

New England Port Meetings (via webinar) 

New England Meeting Flyer

• Tuesday, May 14, 6:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:00 p.m.

Webinar registration is required. Visit the South Atlantic Council’s website for registration links and other information. 

New York Port Meeting (in person) 

New York Meeting Flyer

• June 4, 2024, 6:00 p.m. (in conjunction with June 2024 Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting) – Atlantis Banquets and Events431 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901

Learn more about the King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel Port Meetings by visiting the Council’s website.

Questions? Contact Christina Wiegand at Christina.Wiegand@safmc.net.

November 1, 2023 — The following was released by South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is soliciting scientists interested in serving on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) the Socio-Economic Panel. Membership is open to any qualified scientist, regardless of affiliation or geographic location. The Council will review applications at its December 2023 meeting. Applications received by Monday, November 27, 2023 will be submitted to the Council for consideration.

The SAFMC is one of eight regional fishery management councils in the country. Each council has an SSC responsible for reviewing the scientific basis of council management plans and actions and developing fishing level recommendations in accordance with national fisheries management guidelines. The South Atlantic Council’s SSC meets at least twice a year to address a broad range of topics, including stock assessments, management action evaluations, social and economic analyses, habitat evaluations and ecosystem management issues. SSC members also play a key role in developing and reviewing stock assessments through participation in SEDAR: the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review program.

The South Atlantic Council’s SSC has a specific sub-group, known as the Socio-Economic Panel (SEP), that is made up of social scientists and economists who advise the SSC and the Council on social and economic topics that relate to fisheries management measures and analyses. The SEP typically meets once a year over a two-day period. The SEP members serve 5-year terms and may be appointed to multiple terms.

Scientific and Statistical Committee Applications

The Council appoints SSC members to 3-year terms. Membership terms are staggered so that approximately 1/3 of the membership is considered for reappointment each year, and there is no limitation on the number of terms a member may serve. Anyone with expertise and experience in the areas of fisheries biology, population dynamics, fisheries research and monitoring, and social and economic analyses of natural resources, especially as applied to fish species in the South Atlantic, is encouraged to apply by submitting a complete application that includes: (1) Cover Letter, (2) current Curriculum Vitae, and (3) NOAA Fisheries Financial Disclosure Form. The cover letter should highlight qualifications and experience and indicate receipt and acceptance of the SAFMC SSC job description. All applicants will be subject to a background check and required to review the SAFMC’s handbook and code of conduct policies.

Full duties and expectations of SSC members are described in the SAFMC SSC job description. This document along with additional information for the SSC including the financial disclosure form and peer review process, may be found at the SAFMC SSC homepage.

Complete applications should be emailed as a single PDF attachment to Dr. Judd Curtis, judd.curtis@safmc.net by Monday, November 27, 2023. Further details on the application process or questions may be obtained by email or by phone at (843) 302-8441.

Socio-Economic Panel Applications

Anyone with expertise and experience in the areas of social science, economics, political science, anthropology, social and economic research and monitoring, and/or social and economic analyses of natural resources, especially as applied to fish species in the South Atlantic Region, is encouraged to apply by submitting a CV, cover letter, and completing the NOAA Fisheries Financial Statement available from the Council website. The cover letter should highlight qualifications and experience. All applicants will be subject to a background check and required to review the SAFMC’s handbook and code of conduct policies

Questions and completed applications should be submitted to John Hadley at John.Hadley@safmc.net or 843-302-8432. 

October 30, 2023 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on proposed catch level changes for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel. The Council will hold two public scoping meetings via webinar this week, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. The second webinar will be held Wednesday, November 1st at 6 p.m. Register for webinar.

Atlantic migratory group Spanish Mackerel are managed in federal waters from the Miami/Dade County line in southeast Florida northward along the Atlantic coast to a line extending from the intersection point of New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. A popular nearshore species for both commercial and recreational fishermen, the stock is not overfished nor undergoing overfishing.

Changes to catch levels are being considered based on Acceptable Biological Catch levels set by the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. The Council is seeking input before moving forward with catch level changes through Framework Amendment 13 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan.

Additional Information

During the scoping webinars Council staff will review the actions being considered in Framework Amendment 13, answer questions, and a Council member will take comments. Register now.

The Public Scoping Summary and CMP Framework Amendment 13 Scoping Presentation is available from the Council’s website: https://safmc.net/events/oct-nov-2023-public-scoping-cmp-framework-amendment-13/.

An online public comment form for written comments is also available from the website.

October 12, 2023 — The following was released by South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) October 24-26, 2023 in Charleston, SC. The meeting is open to the public and available via webinar as it occurs. Registration is required.

The SSC is responsible for reviewing the scientific basis of Council management plans and actions to develop fishing level recommendations in accordance with national fisheries management guidelines. SSC members also play a key role in developing stock assessments for Council managed resources through participation in the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Program. 

Agenda Topics

During the three day meeting, the SSC will address a broad range of topics relative to federal fisheries. These include:

• A review of the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing Effort Survey Pilot Study and evaluating measurement error in the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey
• Black Sea Bass – A presentation on the SEDAR 76 assessment
• Modeling discards in fisheries and Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) determinations
• Vermilion Snapper – an interim analysis report
• BSIA (Best Scientific Information Available) National Standard 2 Regional Framework
• Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery
• South Atlantic Deepwater Longline Survey overview and workgroup report
• Florida Hogfish – SEDAR 94 assessment Terms of Reference and participants
• Yellowtail Snapper – Overfishing Limits and ABC considerations
• Climate Change Scenario Planning Review

Additional Information

The briefing book materials, including the meeting agenda, overview, and presentations, are now available from the Council’s website:https://safmc.net/events/oct-2023-ssc-meeting/

An online public comment form for written comments is also available. Register now to attend the meeting via webinar and receive email reminders as the meeting date approaches. Learn more about the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. 

Advisory Panel Meetings

The Council will continue to hold meetings of its advisory panels in Charleston, SC in November. AP meetings are open to the public and also available via webinar. Details for upcoming advisory panel meetings are available at: https://safmc.net/advisory-panel-meetings/. 

Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel

November 1-3, 2023

Charleston Marriott

Webinar registration

Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel

November 6-7, 2023

Town and Country Inn

Webinar registration

Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel

November 7-8, 2023

Town and Country Inn

Webinar registration

Interested in serving on an advisory panel? See the latest announcement for open AP seats and apply now! The Council will consider applicants for various advisory panels during its December 4-8, 2023 meeting in Beaufort, SC. Learn more about the Council’s advisory panels at: https://safmc.net/about/advisory-panels/. 

September 5, 2023 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet September 11-15, 2023 in Charleston, SC to address federal fishery management issues. The meeting begins on Monday, September 11th and continues through noon on Friday at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407.

The meeting is open to the public and also available via webinar each day as it occurs. Register now to attend the meeting via webinar and receive email reminders, or review the week-long meeting agenda and plan to attend in person.

The Council will meet in Full Session at the beginning and end of the meeting week, and hold meetings of its Mackerel Cobia Committee, Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-based Management Committee, SEDAR Committee, and Snapper Grouper Committee throughout the week. 

Meeting materials, including individual committee agendas and overviews, documents, and presentations are available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/events/september-2023-council-meeting/. 

Public Comment

A public comment session will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023beginning at 4 p.m., allowing for both in-person and remote (via webinar) verbal public comment. Details are available from the website. An online public comment form for written comments is also available, with comments posted for both Council members and the public to view via the website.