January 13, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
At the request of penaeid shrimp fishermen, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is considering measures to modify current transit provisions for cold-weather closed areas. The Council will hold a joint meeting of its advisory panels as well as public hearings to get input on proposed changes.
Joint Advisory Panel Meeting
- Deepwater Shrimp, Law Enforcement, and Shrimp Advisory Panels (via webinar)
- Friday, January 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
- Details, including a meeting agenda with a link to webinar registration, briefing book materials, and an online comment form is available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings/.
Public Hearings
- Amendment 11 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (via webinar)
- Wednesday, February 5, 2020
- Thursday, February 6, 2020
- Hearings begin at 6:00 p.m. Additional details, including a public hearing summary document and overview will be posted online as they become available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Links for the webinar registration are now available.
The Council created the cold-weather closures and associated transit provisions to protect over-wintering white shrimp if the abundance of white shrimp decreases by 80% or water temperatures dip below 48 degrees Fahrenheit for at least one week. The current provisions, implemented in 1994, require that trawl gear be stowed below deck when transiting the closed areas. Fishermen have expressed concerns that changes to vessel design over the years make it more difficult to store the gear.
Council members will review recommendations from its advisory panels and input from the public hearings before considering final approval of Shrimp Amendment 11 during their March 2-6, 2020 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA.