August 5, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
SAVE The Date – South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting
September 13-17, 2021
Charleston, SC
Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are currently scheduled to meet at the Town and Country Inn in Charleston, South Carolina from September 13-17, 2021.
Council members will address a broad range of issues affecting federal fishery management during the week-long meeting including:
- Changes to an allowable fishing area for the Rock Shrimp fishery within the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10)
- Management measures for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, Snowy Grouper, and Yellowtail Snapper
- Catch level recommendations for Red Snapper
- Evaluation of the current “two-for-one” federal permit requirement for the commercial snapper grouper fishery
A public hearing for measures proposed for Red Porgy will be held during the meeting. Meeting information, including the agenda and overview, public comment form, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council’s website two weeks prior to the meeting. Public comment will also be accepted during the meeting.
Note: The Council will continue to monitor COVID-19 and CDC guidelines relative to holding the meeting in-person. If necessary, the meeting may be held via webinar. An announcement will be made from the Council office regarding any changes.
Help Us Improve the SAFMC Website
Work continues on the redesign of the Council’s website to improve user experience and provide you ease of access to the information you need most. Having input along the way will help us to better understand how content on the site can be grouped to better serve you.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input via this navigation exercise: https://s1u2yj8z.optimalworkshop.com/treejack/f7536837-0. Input will be accepted until August 18th, so click now!
Questions? Contact Cameron Rhodes at Cameron.Rhodes@safmc.net.
Can Underwater Cameras on Remotely Operated Vehicles Measure the Size of Reef Fish?
New research shows how effective the cameras can be
Offshore bottom fishermen know that reef fish communities along the Atlantic coast and northern Gulf of Mexico contain a wide variety of ecologically and economically important fishes, including snappers, groupers, triggerfishes, and jacks. Several aspects of these fishes’ life history are often related to their length, including age, maturity, and egg production.
Collecting length information, in addition to identifying which species and how many are present at each reef, can provide insights helpful for stock assessments as well as assessing an ecosystem’s condition and productivity.
A recent blog post from N.C. Sea Grant’s Hook, Line & Science online series provides details on how scientists are using GoPro underwater cameras to obtain accurate length estimates.You can even watch an underwater video from the GoPro’s point of view!
Additional Snippets:
National Academies Completes Draft Report on Recreational Fishing Data, Strategies to Support In-Season Management
A recent study completed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine provides recommendations that could improve in-season management tools for recreational fisheries. The draft report, Data and Management Strategies for Recreational Fisheries with Annual Catch Limits is now available, providing recommendations for the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). Have questions about recreational fishing data collection or estimation? Email Dave Bard at david.bard@noaa.gov or visit: countmyfish.noaa.gov.
Congressmen Huffman, Case Introduce the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act – Legislation to Update Federal Fisheries Management
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee and subcommittee member Ed Case (D-Honolulu) have introduced the Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act, legislation to update and reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary law governing federal fisheries management and conservation that has made the U.S. a global leader in sustainable fisheries. See the press release to learn more and to access a one page summary of the bill and the bill in its entirety.
Four Decades of Fresh Fish
August 2021 marks the 40th anniversary for Hull’s Seafood Market and Restaurant in Ormond Beach, Florida. Jimmy Hull, owner of Hull’s Seafood and Chair of the Council’s Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, was recently featured in an article in the Ormond Beach Observer, telling the story of how a small boat at the age of 14 would spark a love of fishing that grew into a successful business through dedication and hard work.
Mark Your Calendar
Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available. Register early and receive email reminders as the meeting date(s) approach!
August 17, 2021
Allocation Decision Tree Blueprint Meeting
Meeting details
Webinar registration
September 13-17, 2021
SAFMC September Meeting
Charleston, SC