May 27, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold their quarterly meeting June 8-11, 2020 via webinar. The meeting, originally scheduled to be held in Key West, Florida was rescheduled via webinar due to the coronavirus and concerns for public safety.
The meeting week begins on Monday, June 8th at 10:30 a.m. with a series of committee meetings and concludes with a meeting of the Full Council on Thursday, June 11.
Meeting briefing book materials, including committee agendas and overviews, discussion documents, and presentations are now available at: https://safmc.net/june-2020-council-meeting-details/. An online comment form is also available for written comments. The meeting will be available via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration is required and can be completed in advance.
A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, June 10th beginning at 4:00 PM. Details on how to sign up for public comment are available from the meeting page of the website.
Agenda Highlights:
- Best Fishing Practices – The Information and Education Committee will receive updates on the Council’s Best Fishing Practices campaign including input from its I&E Advisory Panel.
- Dolphin Wahoo – Work continues on draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan to address revisions to recreational data and catch level recommendations, redefine Optimum Yield for the Dolphin fishery, modify accountability measures, and consider other revisions to the Dolphin and Wahoo fisheries. The Committee will also provide recommendations on management options to add Bullet and Frigate Mackerel to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP as Ecosystem Component Species.
- Snapper Grouper – The Council is scheduled to approve measures to designate existing artificial reefs in federal waters off NC and SC as Special Management Zones at the request of the state marine resource agencies. In addition, the Snapper Grouper Committee will review results of stock assessments for Red Porgy and Greater Amberjack and provide recommendations for catch levels.
- Coastal Migratory Pelagics – The Mackerel Cobia Committee will review the results of a recent stock assessment for King Mackerel and provide recommendations for catch levels.
- Citizen Science – The Citizen Science Committee will provide feedback on Program goals and objectives, evaluation plan options, and receive updates on current CitSci projects including FISHstory and SAFMC Release.
Additional Information:
Discussion on the impacts of COVID-19 on fisheries will be held during each species-specific committee meeting. Further discussions and consideration of Council actions will take place during the meeting of the Full Council on Thursday in order to consider the impact across fisheries and all public comments. The Council will discuss these impacts and consider any necessary response.