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South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Office: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201 North Charleston, SC 29405 phone 843.571.4366 toll free 866.SAFMC-10 fax 843.769.4520 safmc@safmc.net

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Spawning Snapper Photo: Don DeMariaShem Creek, SCThe South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, is one of eight regional fishery management councils in the United States. The South Atlantic Council is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200 nautical mile limit off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida to Key West.  Learn more

 

Spawning Snapper Photo: Don DeMariaShem Creek, SCThe South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, headquartered in North Charleston, South Carolina, is one of eight regional fishery management councils in the United States. The South Atlantic Council is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200 nautical mile limit off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida to Key West.  Learn more

 


  
 News Minimize

Federal Managers Hold Meetings of Public Interest (January 15, 2013)
The Council will hold a series of public hearings regarding management of species in the snapper grouper management complex, as well as dolphin and wahoo beginning January 22nd.  Other meetings of interest include...   read more...
Council Approves Measures to Modify Catch Limits; Delays Action of VMS (December 13, 2012)
Council members approved three amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for Secretarial review during its December meeting. Actions include adjustments to recreational data for unassessed species, increasing catch limits for yellowtail snapper, and removal of an accountability measure that triggered a commercial closure of the shallow-water grouper fishery in 2012.   read more...
SSC Meeting Begins Next Week (October 18, 2012)
The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet to provide recommendations to fishery managers regarding several federally managed species including vermilion snapper, red porgy, yellowtail snapper, and red snapper.   read more...
Council Recognizes Law Enforcement Officer of the Year (September 19, 2012)
North Carolina Marine Patrol Officer Jonathan Hall received the Council's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award during its September meeting.   read more...
Managers Focus on Data Collection at September Council Meeting (September 18, 2012)
Council members heard from fishermen from North Carolina to the Florida Keys about the impacts of recent fishery closures during its September meeting.   read more...

News Release Archive


  
 Meeting Announcements Minimize

Next Council Meeting:

March 4-8, 2013 in St. Simons Island, GA: Now Available! The meeting agenda, briefing book materials and public comment information are now available here.  Note that Council meetings may be accessed via webinar as they occur. Details will be posted on the March 2013 meeting web page.  Read More about the Council's quarterly meetings. 

News Release from the December 2012 Council Meeting

NOW AVAILABLE: Summary Motions from the December 2012 Council Meeting  

Public Hearings and Scoping Meetings:

January 22-30, 2013. The Council held a series of public hearings and scoping meetings to receive public comment on Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5 and Snapper Grouper Amendment 27. The comment period is now closed. Read More

Other Meetings:

January 31, 2013 - Golden Crab Advisory Panel Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Meeting agenda and briefing book materials now available. Read more

February 4-6, 2013 - Marine Protected Area Expert Workgroup Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials now available under the Meetings --> Workshops section of the website. Read more

February 6-7, 2013 - Joint Information & Education/Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting, Charleston, SC.  Meeting agenda and briefing book materials now available under the Meetings --> Advisory Panel Meetings section of the website. Read more

February 25, 2013 - Joint Committee on South Florida Management Issues Meeting via webinar. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more 

March 27, 2013 - Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

April 22-23, 2013 - Mackerel Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

April 23-25, 2013 - Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

May 7, 2013 - Habitat Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

May 7, 2013 - Coral Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

May 8, 2013 - Joint Habitat and Coral Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more

May 9, 2013 - Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel Meeting, N. Charleston, SC. Meeting agenda and briefing book materials will be posted as they are available. Read more


  
 Announcements Minimize

 

Commercial Updates

Recreational Updates

News & Regulation Updates

Regulation Summaries: Recreational and Commercial Snapper Grouper Regulations

Open for Public Comment

Other Items of Interest


Commercial Updates:

Closures -

New! Vermilion snapper effective February 13, 2013. Fishery will reopen July 1, 2013. Fishery Bulletin

Reminder: Red porgy annual seasonal closure Jan 1 - April 30, 2013.

Reminder: Shallow-water grouper complex annual spawning season closure, effective January 1, 2013. See Fishery Bulletin for list of species.

Black sea bass closed effective October 8, 2012. Reopens June 1, 2013. Endorsements required.  Fishery Bulletin 

Other Updates -
 
New! Trip Limit Decreased to 300 Pounds per Day for Commercial Harvest of Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic Effective 12:01 a.m. February 18, 2013. Fishery Bulletin (will be posted as available)
 
New! King Mackerel Trip Limit Increases to 75 fish per day for Commercial Vessels Fishing in the Florida East Coast Subzone Effective 12:01  a.m. February 1, 2013. Fishery Bulletin
 
Atlantic Group Spanish Mackerel Trip Limit Reduced for Commercial Vessels Fishing in the Southern Zone (Florida) Effective 6 a.m. January 6, 2013. Fishery Bulletin
 
Final Rule for Amendment 18A allows transfer of black sea bass pot endorsements. Effective January 7, 2013. Fishery Bulletin
 
 

Recreational Updates:

Closures -

Reminder: Shallow-water grouper complex annual seasonal closure, effective January 1, 2013. See Fishery Bulletin for list of species.

Vermilion Snapper Closed, effective November 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013. Annual closure and will reopen April 1, 2013.

Black Sea Bass Closed - reopens June 1, 2013. Read more...

Other Updates -

News & Regulation Updates:

NOAA Fisheries increases the commercial yellowtail snapper Annual Catch Limit (ACL), effective November 7, 2012. Fishery Bulletin

Reminder: Boundary shifts, commercial quotas and trip limits for King mackerel.  Fishery Bulletin

NOAA Fisheries Announces New Regulations for Wreckfish effective October 26, 2012. Fishery Bulletin

New Regulations for Spiny Lobster in the Florida Keys - Area closures to protect coral - Effective August 27, 2012. Fishery BulletinAdditional information from NOAA Fisheries

Commercial Quota for Greater Amberjack Revised, effective August 17, 2012 - Read Fishery Bulletin; Federal Register Notice (includes explanation); Comprehensive ACL Amendment information.

NOAA Fisheries Service Implements a Rebuilding Plan for Red Grouper, effective July 11, 2012 Read Fishery Bulletin See Library for a copy of Amendment 24 (+ appendices) as well as the Final Rule.

Black Sea Bass Regulation Changes Effective July 1, 2012 - New recreational and commercial size limits, commercial trip limits, pot endorsement program and other measures - Read Fishery Bulletin

New Regulations for King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel and Cobia in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. See Fishery Bulletin

Open for Public Comment:

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18 - Measures for vermilion snapper and red porgy. Public comment open until March 4, 2013.  Notice (PDF) Regulatory Amendment 18 (PDF)

Other Items of Interest:

Testimony of Council member Duane Harris before the House Committee on Natural Resources regarding NOAA's Fishery Science. Click Here to read the testimony.

Reminder: Red Snapper Fishery Remains Closed in South Atlantic Region, effective December 3, 2010. Read Fishery Bulletin (posted 12/3/10) Amendment 17A and Final Rule available in the FMP Library.

Reminder: Sale of snapper grouper harvested or possessed under bag limits is prohibited. Final Rule implementing Snapper Grouper Amendment 15B published. Read Fishery Bulletin reminder for more information.

Reminder: Circle Hooks Required in South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Read Fishery Bulletin

 

 


  
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