NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the 2012-2013 recreational annual catch limit of 409,000 pounds for black sea bass has been reached.  As a result, the recreational sector for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic from the latitude of Cape Hatteras Light, North Carolina to Key West, Florida, will close effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) September 4, 2012, through 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2013.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold meetings of its: Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Shrimp Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee; King and Spanish Mackerel Committee; Advisory Panel Selection Committee (closed session); Golden Crab Committee; Executive Finance Committee; and a meeting of the Full Council. The Council will take action as necessary. 

Permit will open for recreational harvest Aug. 1 in the Special Permit Zone, an area south of Cape Florida on the west coast and south of Cape Sable on the east coast that includes state and federal waters.

The season closes annually on May 1. Outside of the Special Permit Zone, the recreational harvest of permit is open year-round. Commercial harvest of permit is not allowed inside the Special Permit Zone. 

NMFS publishes this proposed rule to implement a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 12) 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 modify the golden tilefish annual catch limit (ACL), which would be equal to the optimum yield (OY), as well as revise the recreational accountability measures (AMs) for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The intent of this rule is to modify management measures for golden tilefish in the commercial and recreational sectors in the South Atlantic based on new stock assessment analyses.

Written comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before August 20, 2012.

NMFS issues this final rule to supplement the regulations implementing the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment Comprehensive ACL Amendment for the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council).

Fishermen, seafood dealers, federal commercial and for-hire (charter and headboat operators) and all interested persons are invited to attend a series of meetings conducted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from August 6-16, 2012.  Public hearings, workshops and informal input sessions will be held as part of the meeting series. Issues to be discussed include:

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- organizations (NGOs), scientists, and concerned citizens.

Fishermen Needed for Upcoming 2013 Stock Assessments of Gray Triggerfish and Blueline Tilefish for South Atlantic

If you are an avid fisherman with experience in fishing for gray triggerfish or blueline tilefish, you may be eligible to participate in the upcoming 2013 stock assessment for these species. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting volunteers to participate in stock assessments for the two species scheduled to begin in early 2013. The benchmark assessments will be conducted through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment program.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold public meetings in July to receive comments on locations for three new inshore fishing reefs/oyster sanctuary sites.

The division’s Oyster Sanctuary Program has received a Coastal Recreational Fishing License grant to construct three inshore fishing reefs/oyster sanctuaries in the Cedar Island, Cape Fear River and Manteo areas. The goal is to increase angling opportunities in North Carolina by creating and protecting sub-tidal oyster reefs with easy access for the recreational angler.

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 24 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). This final rule establishes red grouper commercial and recreational sector annual catch limits (ACLs); establishes red grouper sector accountability measures (AMs); and removes the combined gag, black grouper, and red grouper commercial quota, and commercial and recreational sector ACLs and AMs. The intent of this final rule is to specify ACLs and AMs for red grouper while maintaining catch levels consistent with achieving optimum yield (OY) for the red grouper esource. Additionally, Amendment 24 implements a rebuilding plan for red grouper in the South Atlantic.