NMFS hereby reorganizes the regulations implementing the fishery management plans (FMPs) for the following domestic fisheries in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: Caribbean coral, Caribbean reef fish, Caribbean spiny lobster, Caribbean queen conch, Gulf red drum, Gulf reef fish, Gulf shrimp, Gulf coral, Gulf and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, Gulf and South Atlantic spiny lobster, South Atlantic coral, South Atlantic snapper-grouper, South
Atlantic shrimp, Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, South Atlantic golden crab, and South Atlantic pelagic sargassum. This interim final rule does not create any new rights or obligations; it reorganizes the existing regulatory requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations in a more logical format, i.e., by fishery, so constituents and other interested parties can locate regulatory requirements applicable to them more easily. As a part of this reorganization, the implementing regulations for the Gulf and South Atlantic spiny lobster FMP have been consolidated into the same CFR part as all other regulations implementing FMPs in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold the AP meetings in North Charleston, SC.

The meetings will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2013.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the King & Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) and Snapper Grouper AP in North Charleston, SC.

The meetings will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013 until 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, 2013.

The meetings will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; telephone: (800) 445-8667 or (843) 308-9330; fax: (843) 308-9331.

Applications due by May 1, 2013

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applications for seats currently available on its advisory panels. Working at the grass roots level, advisory panel members provide information and guidance in the development and implementation of federal fishery management plans. The Council has 11 separate advisory panels composed of individuals who are engaged in the harvest of managed species, or are knowledgeable and interested in the conservation and management of the fishery or managed species. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), scientists, and concerned citizens. 

Staff will provide information on the proposed action and Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on commercial snapper grouper vessels

Amendment 30 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan is being considered by the SAFMC and will be taken out to public hearing in April throughout the region. The amendment deals with a possible requirement for all vessels with a Commercial Federal Snapper Grouper Permit to be equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).

SAFMC Announces the Release of Free Federal Fishing Regulations Mobile App - "SA Fishing Regulations" App highlights fishing regulations and much more Now available for iPhone and Android

Scientists convene in April to provide fishing level recommendations; advisory panels provide input 

Fishermen and others interested in federal fishery management issues may want to mark their calendars for upcoming meetings that will impact fisheries such as snapper grouper, dolphin wahoo, and mackerel. Protection of deepwater coral habitat, transit provisions, and the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems are also on the agendas. Members of the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee will review stock assessments for black sea bass, cobia, and Spanish mackerel, and provide fishing level recommendations to the Council to consider for setting annual catch limits (ACLs). The Council will hold a special one-day meeting on May 13, 2013 via webinar to address fishing level recommendations for black sea bass. Several advisory panel meetings are also scheduled in the coming weeks. Advisory panel members, representing commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, fish house operators and others knowledgeable about fisheries issues, provide grass roots input into the fishery management process. 

Removal of recreational seasonal closure proposed; Improvements in data collection addressed

 A broad range of federal fishery management measures were approved for submission to the Secretary of Commerce during last week’s meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in St. Simons Island, Georgia.  The following amendments were approved by the Council last week for submission to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval and implementation by NOAA Fisheries:

 NMFS proposes regulations to implement a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 13) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this rule would revise the annual catch limits (ACLs) (including sector ACLs) for 37 species in the snapper-grouper fishery management unit (FMU). The intent of this rule is to ensure that the ACLs are based on the best scientific information available, and to prevent unnecessary negative socio-economic impacts to participants in the snapper-grouper fishery and fishing community that could occur if the ACLs are not revised, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

Written comments must be received on or before April 22, 2013.

A dedicated source of state funds for maintenance dredging of inlets along the North Carolina coast could be on the way.

Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, is the primary sponsor of a bill that would establish as a special revenue fund the Shallow Draft Inlet Dredging Fund. Money for the fund would come from proposed increases in North Carolina’s vessel registration and titling fees.