From South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

REMINDER: Public Hearings and Scoping Meetings Scheduled in August for Proposed Federal Fisheries Management Measures

Written comments accepted until August 18, 2014

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is requesting public input on proposed management measures affecting the fishery management plans for snapper grouper, dolphin and wahoo, coastal migratory pelagics (includes king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia) and golden crab. The public is encouraged to provide written comment and participate in upcoming public hearings scheduled from August 6-14, 2014 throughout the region on the proposed changes to management measures. The following measures are being considered:

For Public Hearing
Generic Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment includes:

• Modifications to accountability measures for some species in the snapper grouper management complex
• Modifications to accountability measures for the commercial golden crab fishery
• Modifications to the allocation between commercial and recreational sectors for dolphin (mahi-mahi)

Snapper Grouper Amendment 32 proposes measures to end overfishing and rebuild the blueline tilefish stock, including:

• Removing blueline tilefish from the Deepwater-Complex for management
• Establishing an Acceptable Biological Catch, Optimum Yield, and other management parameters
• Reducing the current Annual Catch Limit
• Establishing commercial trip limits and modifying recreational bag limits

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 20 addresses measures for snowy grouper, including:

• Modifications to the rebuilding strategy
• Proposed split seasons for the commercial fishery
• Modifications to trip limits and changes to recreational bag limits

Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment 2 includes:

• Modifications to Atlantic group Spanish mackerel trip limits for the “Southern Zone”
• Note: an amendment previously approved by the Council would establish a Northern Zone and a Southern Zone at the NC/SC boundary, with separate commercial quotas for Atlantic group Spanish mackerel

Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper Grouper Amendment 33 includes:

• Proposed measures to allow recreational fishermen to bring fillets of dolphin and wahoo into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from The Bahamas
• Updates to current regulations that allow recreational fishermen to bring fillets of species in the snapper grouper management unit from The Bahamas into the U.S. EEZ

For Public Scoping
Snapper Grouper Amendment 35 – Removal of four species from the snapper grouper management unit
Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 – Process to consider protection of spawning areas for snapper grouper species

Public Hearing and Scoping 
Public scoping occurs at the beginning of the management process, providing the public an opportunity to comment on issues before the Council has decided to take any specific action. Using input received during the initial scoping process, the Council may then develop a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) or amendment to address these issues. Amendments considered for public hearings are further along in the management process and the Council is seeking public comment on specific management measures prior to the Council taking final action.

Learn More 
Summary documents, video presentations, and other materials for the amendments are posted on the Public Hearing and Scoping Meeting page of the Council’s website (www.safmc.net). Complete copies of the public hearing versions of the draft amendments are also available.

Submit Written Comment 
Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 PM on August 18, 2014. Instructions for submitting comments, including email comments, are available from the website.

Public Hearing and Scoping Meetings
The Council will hold a series of public hearing/scoping meetings from Key West, Florida to Morehead City, North Carolina (see schedule below). Council staff will be on hand to provide an overview of the proposed measures and available for informal discussions and to answer questions. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record to provide comments for consideration by the Council. Local Council representatives will attend the meetings and listen to public comment. 

SAFMC August 2014 Public Hearing Schedule
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday, August 6
Bay Watch Conference Center
2701 S. Ocean Boulevard
N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Phone: 843/272-4600

Thursday, August 7
Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
Phone: 252/247-3883

Monday, August 11
Key West Marriott Beachside
3841 N. Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, FL 33040
Phone: 305/296-8100

Tuesday, August 12
Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
1550 N. Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Phone: 321/799/0003

Wednesday, August 13
Wyndham Riverwalk
1515 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: 904/396-5100

Thursday, August 14
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, GA 31322
Phone: 912/748-8888

 

fish, Fishing, Regulations, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

By Sid

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