NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit that applies to vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category (when fishing recreationally for BFT) should be adjusted for the remainder of 2012, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and based on preliminary 2012 landings data. NMFS also closes the southern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'') BFT. These actions are being taken consistent with the BFT fishery management objectives of the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (Consolidated HMS FMP) and to prevent overharvest of the 2012 Angling category quota.

DATES: Effective April 7, 2012, through December 31, 2012.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold two public workshops in April and May to solicit information regarding the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) to help protect speckled hind and Warsaw grouper, two species currently listed as undergoing overfishing. The first workshop will be held April 18, 2012 in North Charleston, SC and the second on May 16, 2012 in Pooler, GA. Three additional workshops will be scheduled for North Carolina and Florida later this year.

MPA Public Workshops - 6:00 PM
April 18, 2012 May 16, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn Mighty 8th Air Force Museum
5265 International Blvd. 175 Bourne Avenue
North Charleston, SC 29418 Pooler, GA 31322
(843) 308-9330 (912) 748-8888

The workshops are designed to give the public the opportunity to provide data on locations of speckled hind and Warsaw grouper and important habitat for the two species. The Council will consider input from the first two public workshops during its June 11-15, 2012 meeting in Orlando, Florida. The Council will also accept written comments until 12:00 noon on May 21, 2012.
Read More about the workshops.

http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102862873579-45/MPA_WorkshopNR040512.pdf

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold 
meetings of its: Snapper Grouper AP; Joint Shrimp and Deepwater Shrimp 
AP; Dolphin Wahoo AP; King and Spanish Mackerel AP; and Coral AP in 
North Charleston, SC. An MPA Workshop will be held in conjunction with 
the Snapper Grouper AP meeting. All meetings are open to the public. 

DATES: The meetings will take place from April 18-May 10, 2012.

For agendas and more 

If you fish in federal waters more than three miles off the South Atlantic coast, chances are there is a meeting scheduled in the coming weeks regarding federal fisheries that is of interest to you. Please see the list below and mark your calendars. All meetings are open to the public.

Note that all of the advisory panel meetings and a marine protected area workshop will be held in North Charleston, SC at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29418; Hotel phone (843) 308-9330. Additional information, including meeting agendas, overviews and briefing book materials are posted on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Web site at www.safmc.net as they become available.

April 3-5      SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Meeting
April 18-19  Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting
April 18       Marine Protected Area Workshop
April 20       Joint Shrimp and Deepwater Shrimp AP Meeting
April 24       Dolphin Wahoo AP Meeting
April 24-25  King and Spanish Mackerel AP Meeting
May 9-10    Coral AP Meeting

To read more click here
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102862873579-39/SAFMC_UpcomingMeetingsNR032312.pdf

Recreational Season Opens for Vermilion Snapper on April 1st in South Atlantic Federal Waters

The recreational season for vermilion snapper will reopen on April 1, 2012. The daily bag limit is 5 vermilion snapper per person (in addition to the aggregate bag limit of 10 snapper), with a minimum size limit of 12" Total Length. The recreational season ends annually on November 1, 2012.

The commercial fishery remains closed, and the split-season will reopen on July 1.

NOAA Fisheries and Sonoma County Water Agency sign first-ever agreement for collaborative stewardship of salmon and steelhead. The landmark agreement offers private landowners incentives to conserve federally protected fish.

The Endangered Species Act provides for the conservation of habitat for listed species. It does so by supporting private landowners and non-federal entities in their efforts to manage their land in a manner that protects, restores, or maintains habitat conditions for listed species.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 113th Scientific and Statistical Committee, Executive and Budget Standing Committee, Pelagic and International and Protected Species Standing Committee and the 157th Council Meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The meetings will be held from June 18, 2013 through June 27, 2013. All meetings will be held in Honolulu, HI. For specific times and agendas click below

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's (Council) will convene meetings of its Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands (CNMI) Archipelagic Advisory Panels (APs) and the Hawaii Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC).

The Guam AP will be held on June 3, 2013, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The American Samoa AP will be held on June 5, 2013 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The CNMI AP will be held on June 5, 2013 from 10 p.m.-5 p.m. The Hawaii AP will be held on June 13, 2013 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Hawaii REAC will be held on June 12, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meeting of its Pelagics Plan Team (PPT) and Archipelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan Teams, in Honolulu, HI, to discuss fishery issues and develop recommendations for future management.

The meeting of the PPT will be held between April 23 and 24, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Archipelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan Teams will be held between April 22 and April 25, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) as threatened or endangered and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Accordingly, we will conduct a review of the status of this species to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, for 60 days we are soliciting information pertaining to this species from any interested party.

Information and comments on the subject action must be received by April 29, 2013.