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SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for December 7-10, 2020

November 16, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet December 7-10, 2020 to address management measures affecting Dolphin and Wahoo, Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, and Yellowtail Snapper in federal waters.

The meeting agenda also includes discussion of modifications to deepwater shrimp closed areas, presentations relative to the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan, and reports from its advisory panels. Council members will also discuss the Council’s Citizen Science Program and ongoing projects. The meeting, originally scheduled for Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, will be held via webinar due to health concerns and the coronavirus pandemic.

The meeting begins on Monday morning, December 7, 2020 with a Closed Session to review advisory panel applicants and policy issues. Open sessions begin Monday afternoon and meetings of the Council’s committees and Full Council will continue through Thursday, December 10th.

A public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m.

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/.

Early South Atlantic Snapper Closure Draws Ire

June 10, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Another early mandated closure of yellowtail snapper commercial fishery has local commercial fishermen again calling for a reallocation of that species because the recreational fishing side has not been meeting its annual allocation every year.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will close the fishery Friday, June 7, and will reopen it Aug. 1, which is the start of a new fishing year for yellowtail snapper. The fishing year for yellowtail runs from Aug. 1 to July 31.

The August 2018 through July 2019 commercial catch limit is 1,596,510 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit and harvest should close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded, according to the South Atlantic Fishery Management.

During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of yellowtail snapper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of yellowtail snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational sector is open, according to council.

This is the second straight year the council closed the commercial yellowtail fishery roughly two months early.

Yellowtail snapper is one of the most profitable commercial fin fisheries in the Keys. The Keys account for 90 percent of the yellowtail landings in the United States.

The top five communities with the highest levels of commercial landings of yellowtail snapper include the Florida communities of Key West, Miami, Marathon, Fort Lauderdale and Key Largo, according to the South Atlantic Council. The top Florida communities for recreational fishing also include communities in South Florida and the Florida Keys.

For the past several years, Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association Executive Director Bill Kelly has lobbied state and federal fishery managers to reallocate some of the unused yellowtail annual catch allocation from the recreational sector to the commercial sector.

The annual catch limit for commercially harvested yellowtail is about 1.6 million pounds and the recreational annual catch limit is roughly 1.4 million pounds.

The recreational side has not harvested 500,000 to 700,000 pounds of yellowtail in South Atlantic waters for the past six of seven years and 500,000 pounds in Gulf waters, according to Kelly.

“The recreational sector has not harvested more than 50 percent in the past 10 years, but still we have early closures,” Kelly said.

Reallocation is a hugely controversial issue when it comes to all fisheries. The federal General Accounting Office is currently taking input on fishery reallocation and is interviewing fishermen this week at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council this week at Gulf Council’s meeting in Florida.

The General Accounting Office will be at the South Atlantic’s meeting next week in Stuart, Florida to take input.

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Commercial Closure for Yellowtail Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on June 7, 2019

June 3, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

The commercial harvest of yellowtail snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 7, 2019. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of yellowtail snapper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of yellowtail snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational sector is open.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

The August 2018 through July 2019 commercial catch limit is 1,596,510 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit and harvest should close to prevent the 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 August 2019 through July 2020 yellowtail snapper season in the South Atlantic will open on August 1, 2019, with a 1,596,510 pounds whole weight catch limit.

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.

NOAA Fisheries: Commercial Closure for Yellowtail Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on June 5, 2018

May 31, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

WHAT/WHEN:

  • The commercial harvest of yellowtail snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 5, 2018. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of yellowtail snapper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of yellowtail snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits while the recreational fishery is open.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:  

  • The August 2017 through July 2018 commercial catch limit is 1,596,510 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit and harvest should close to prevent the 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 August 2018 through July 2019 yellowtail snapper season in the South Atlantic will open on August 1, 2018, with a 1,596,510 pounds whole weight catch limit.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register.

 

Commercial Closure for Yellowtail Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on June 3, 2017

May 26, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

WHAT/WHEN:The commercial harvest of yellowtail snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m. on June 3, 2017. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of yellowtail snapper is prohibited, and harvest or possession of yellowtail snapper in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational fishery is open.

 WHY IS THIS CLOSURE HAPPENING:

  • The August 2016 – July 2017 commercial catch limit is 1,596,510 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are approaching the commercial catch limit and harvest should close to prevent the 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 August 2017 – July 2018 yellowtail snapper season in the South Atlantic will open on August 1, 2017, with a 1,596,510 pounds whole weight catch limit. 

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or by clicking here.

Reminder – Public Hearing/Scoping Meetings Continue Next Week in NC; Deadline for Advisory Panel Applications Approaching

February 3, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Join local representatives from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Council staff as public hearing and scoping meetings continue next week in North Carolina. 

The Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings to collect public input on management options for red snapper and the Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery and proposed measures affecting allocations for yellowtail snapper.  Documents and online presentations are available by clicking the link below.

Note: Meetings begin at 6:00 PM

 

Monday, February 6

Hilton Wilmington Riverside

301 North Water Street

 Wilmington, NC

 

Tuesday, February 7

Hatteras Community Center

 57689 NC Highway 12

Hatteras, NC

 

Wednesday, February 8

Doubletree by Hilton

 2717 W. Fort Macon Road

Atlantic Beach, NC

 

Can’t Attend a Meeting in Person? Each of the meetings is available via webinar. Registration is required.

Visit the Council’s website: Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL: Reminder – Public Hearing/Scoping Meetings Begin This Week in Florida

January 23, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Join local representatives from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Council staff as public hearing and scoping meetings continue this week along Florida’s east coast.

The Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and the Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery.

Monday, January 23 

Lexington Hotel & Conference Center

1515 Prudential Drive

Jacksonville, FL

Tuesday, January 24

Hilton Cocoa Beach

1550 N. Atlantic Ave.

Cocoa Beach, FL

Wednesday, January 25

Flagler Place

201 S.W. Flagler Ave.

Stuart, FL

Thursday, January 26

Hilton Key Largo

97000 Overseas Hwy.

Key Largo, FL

Read the full release at the SAFMC

SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL: Public Hearing and Scoping Meetings Continue

January 12, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between January 12 and February 8, 2017 to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and the Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery.

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

See more information at the SAFMC

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: January/February 2017 Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

January 4, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between January 12 and February 8, 2017 to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and more.

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

Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

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.

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