Tag Archives: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Council for Sustainable Fishing – Working to prevent a grouper closure and catch shares
Last week, I attended the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Charleston, SC and wanted to make you aware of some important decisions made by the council. While the council approved increased Annual Catch Limits for a number of unassessed snapper-grouper species such as gray triggerfish (commercial and recreational ACLs will increase by about 40,000 lbs. and 51,000 lbs. respectively next year), the council was on the verge of slashing the overall scamp grouper ACL by over 40 percent, which had the potential of hurting fishermen, particularly in the Carolinas. Read the rest here
Officials considering closing fishing areas from Florida Keys to North Carolina – seeking fishermen’s comments.
Representatives from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council held meetings last week in Key West and other areas of the state to obtain input on setting aside fishery areas as a way to protect critical spawning habitat.The goal of the proposal is to identify important spawning habitats for snapper and grouper species, while minimizing the social and economic impacts to snapper and grouper fishermen. Read more here 10:54
SAFMC halts MPA effort, includes catch shares in top ten list
The SAFMC has been pushed hard for over two years by radical environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, and Pew to approve the proposed MPAs even though the SAFMC’s own scientific advisors have said there is no scientific justification. It is of great concern that at last week’s SAFMC meeting, when council members submitted their top three issues/solutions as part of the snapper-grouper fishery “visioning” process, catch shares made it into the top ten issues for consideration. Read more here 14:04
New rules would ban commercial fishing, lobster mini season from Biscayne National Park
“It’s always so easy to take a swipe at fishermen whether they’re commercial or recreational,” said Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “It’s going to have a severe socio-economic impact. We’re talking generations of fishermen — a cultural heritage.” Read more here 08:55
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting June 9-13 – Listen Live!
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Meeting Agenda Click Here Webinar Registration: Watch the meeting LIVE as it happens Click here to register 13:09
Council For Sustainable Fishing – Help get the best qualified fisheries managers
Good news from last week: Governors Nikki Haley and Rick Scott nominated charter boat operators Mark Brown from Charleston and Robert Johnson from St. Augustine respectively for appointment to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to fill seats for recreational/for-hire representation. Read more here 17:19
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting March 3-7, 2014 in Savannah, GA – Listen LIVE!
Briefing book materials, including a detailed agenda, agenda highlights, committee meeting overviews, committee documents, and information on the Informal Q&A and Public Comment Session are now available here Sign up for Webinar here 20:17
SAFMC BULLETIN: Federal Waters Off South Carolina Closed to All Fishing for Brown, White, and Pink Shrimp Through May 31, 2014
Effective February 13, 2014, at 12:01am Federal waters off South Carolina are closed to the harvest of brown, pink, and white shrimp through May 31, 2014. South Carolina has closed its territorial waters to all shrimping as well. South Carolina fishery managers requested this closure due to a prolonged period of water temperatures at or below 9°C in the region. Read more@sefmc 20:05
Tell the SAFMC how you want the snapper-grouper fishery managed!
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is developing a long-term “vision” for managing the snapper grouper fishery. Next week, beginning in South Carolina, the fishery council will begin a series of “port meetings” to seek input from commercial and recreational snapper-grouper fishermen, dealers, chefs and others who have a stake in the fishery as to how the fishery should be managed long-term. Read [email protected] 20:51
Important meetings in Florida and Georgia this week! – Council for Sustainable Fishing
This week, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct public input meetings in Florida and Georgia on proposed fishery management plan amendments that will affect the black sea bass trap fishery, gray triggerfish, Spanish and king mackerel, and how Annual Catch Limits are calculated on some unassessed snapper-grouper species. Click here for the public meeting schedule, how to submit written comments and the amendment documents. 15:25 Click here for Council for Sustainable Fishing
Fishermen seek winter black bass pot fishing again
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of the interstate fishery management bodies with jurisdiction in the federal waters off North Carolina, held a hearing and scoping meeting for the public Wednesday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. It was about several proposed amendments to fishery management plans. One of these is Amendment 16 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP for the South Atlantic region, which includes North Carolina. Read more@cataretcounty 10:52
“We really don’t know if the stock is rebuilt,” Roy Crabtree of the National Marine Fisheries Service – Goliath grouper could be placed back on the hook
The possible future of South Florida fishing rules, including the latest information on Goliath grouper populations, goes before combined panels of federal and state fishery experts convening Jan. 7-9 in Key Largo. “This is really interesting stuff,” said Robert Mahood, executive director of the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Read [email protected]” 01:15
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 2-6, 2013 – Wilmington, NC
Meeting Postcard Meeting Agenda Briefing Book Materials Webinar Registration: Watch the meeting LIVE as it happens – Sign up for daily Webinars below. Info here 16:21
NOAA says Population of black sea bass recovered, assessment finds
Catch limits for black sea bass more than doubled last month after a stock assessment showed that the southern population of the fish has officially recovered, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said this week. The change was no surprise to area fishermen, who for years complied with shortened fishing seasons and restricted catch limits while local sea bass populations surged. more@starnewsonline 09:10
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SSC Meeting: October 22-24, 2013
The scientific advisors to the South Atlantic Council meet this week to talk about blueline tilefish, Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper, and other issues. You can listen in via webinar here 11:04
In Public Notices – South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Approves Broad Range of Federal Management Measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2013 The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved several amendments to federal fishery management plans during its quarterly meeting this past week in Charleston, South Carolina, including measures to help reduce bycatch, increase annual catch limits, improve data reporting, and provide further protection of deepwater coral areas. The Council considered recommendations from its advisory. more here 15:59South Atlantic Fishery Management Council delay action on new Marine Protected Areas
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Federal regulators decided Wednesday they want more information before adding another 300 square miles to areas where bottom fishing is banned along the Southeast coast. A proposal before a committee of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council would have established 12 new Marine Protected Areas, to go with eight existing ones, in waters along the coast between the Carolinas and Florida. more@sfgate 23:01
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to discuss closing Georgetown Hole, other areas, to fishing
Murrells Inlet seafood dealer Chris Conklin will be sworn as a new member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at the start of the council’s meeting on Monday and will immediately find himself embroiled in what promises to be an intense discussion on the proposed establishment of more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) off the South Atlantic coast. The impact on South Carolina fishermen – both recreational and commercial – could be significant if all the proposed MPAs are approved, and the council is being urged to do just that by at least one environmental group, the PEW Charitable Trusts. more@myrtlebeachonline 00:26
No-fishing zones can’t be justified, hurt coastal economy
Recreational and commercial fishermen and coastal business should be very concerned about an effort by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to create more no-fishing zones off North and South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida in a misguided reaction to radical environmental groups that are pushing for extraordinary and unjustifiable protections for two deep-water grouper species. more@islandpacket 13:47
National Marine Fisheries Service increase yearly yellowtail snapper catch
The National Marine Fisheries Service will increase the allowable catch for yellowtail snapper in the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which runs from North Carolina to Florida. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, which oversees fisheries from Florida to Texas, will increase the annual catch limit for yellowtail in its jurisdiction from 725,000 pounds to 901,125 pounds. . more@keysnet
Fishermen: Let charterboats sell excess dolphin
Charterboat crews should be allowed to resume selling part of their dolphin catches, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council members heard at a Thursday hearing in Key Largo. more@keysnet
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct a series of meetings throughout its region in the months ahead.
Two hearings will take place on Florida’s east coast, each between 4 and 7 p.m. The first takes place Tuesday at the Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville. The second takes place Wednesday at the Doubletree Hilton Cocoa Beach, 2080 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach. @samfc.net
Few waters contain a more baffling hodgepodge of fishing rules than the Florida Keys
Recreational and commercial fishing in South Florida waters falls under the jurisdiction of three government agencies: The federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and the state FWC. Then toss in rules for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, national wildlife areas and species-specific closed areas. @keysnet
Red snapper season to open
The commercial season will open on Aug. 26 and will end when the annual catch limit is projected to be met, NOAA officials said. The daily trip limit will be 75 pounds gutted weight with no minimum size limit. continued@daytonabeachnj
Fishery Bulletin – Commercial Harvest of Gray Triggerfish in South Atlantic Waters Closes on July 7
Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on July 7, 2013. Commercial harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2014. The 2013 commercial catch limit is 305,262 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate that commercial landings are rapidly approaching the 2013 catch limit. continued here
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council News Release June 17, 2013
Federal Fishery Managers Decide Against Requirement for Vessel Monitoring Systems- After considering public comment and recommendations from its advisory panels, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has decided not to move forward with an amendment that would have required the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for vessels with a Federal Commercial Snapper Grouper Permit in the South Atlantic. Other actions. continued@SAFMC
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council doubles catch limit for black sea bass
“The council had a special meeting in May via webinar to approve this, as soon as the stock assessment had been reviewed,” she said. “The intent is that this increase would go into effect before the current catch limit is met. From the information we’ve received, there really isn’t a reason we foresee that this wouldn’t be approved.” continued @ Star News online
Yellowtail Snapper harvest might increase – Allocation for the commercial segment would rise by nearly 460,000 pounds
keysnet.com – After it took an emergency rule to keep Florida’s commercial harvest of yellowtail snapper open through all of 2012, federal managers want to boost the allowable catch. The National Marine Fisheries Service now proposes to establish an annual catch limit of 3 million pounds of whole yellowtail, up from 2.2 million pounds. Allocation for the commercial segment would rise by nearly 460,000 pounds, to 1.59 million pounds of yellowtail. continued
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Approves Increases for Black Sea Bass Annual Catch Limits
In a compromise vote, the Council approved an increase from the current limit of 847,000 pounds (all measures in whole weight) to 1,814,000 pounds. . continued
South Atlantic Red rules under review by the NMFS (noaa fisheries is not an agency)
Miami Herald – NOAA proposes to develop an equation to determine the annual catch limit for both the commercial and recreational sectors if fishing is allowed. But first it plans to establish whether last summer’s mini-season resulted in too many landings and dead discards. continued
