Several changes to black sea bass management in Atlantic state waters went into effect this week. These changes will help rebuild the Atlantic black sea bass population for future generations of recreational and commercial fishers and were made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at its Dec. 5 meeting.
Changes include:
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has published a list of management plans they will be working on for this year. Please click below to review the areas to be addressed;
Assessments show overfishing ended for vermilion snapper and limits may increase
Several fishery management issues will be reviewed by members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council during its week-long meeting in St. Simons Island, Georgia in March. There is good news for vermilion snapper fishermen, with an increase in the Annual Catch Limit slated as a result of the recent stock assessment update. For red porgy, the news was not as positive, with the update showing the stock still overfished. The Council will address measures for both species in Amendment 18 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan.
The South Atlantic Update Winter 2013 Fishery Regulations
Shallow-Water Grouper
Closed January 1st through April 30th - Both commercial and recreational fisheries • includes gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, and yellowmouth grouper.
Grouper Aggregate Bag Limit
2013 Schedule
March 4-8, 2013
Sea Palms Resort
5445 Fredrica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31552
Phone: 1/800-841-6268
MEETING AGENDA
In addition to a Council Member Visioning Workshop, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the: Joint South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC)/Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) King and Spanish Mackerel Committee; Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Golden Crab Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee; Information & Education Committee; Law Enforcement Committee; Executive Finance Committee; and a meeting of the Full Council. The Council will take action as necessary. The Council will also hold an informal public question and answer session regarding agenda items and a formal public comment session.
The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013 until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013.
SAFMC Accepting Public Comment on Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18
Amendment addresses management measures for vermilion snapper and red porgy
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public comment on proposed management measures for vermilion snapper and red porgy. Stock assessment updates were recently completed for both species. The updates show that overfishing for vermilion snapper ended, allowing for an increase in the Annual Catch Limit (ACL). The increase may allow for a removal of the current recreational seasonal closure (November 1 through March 31) as well as other measures for both commercial and recreational fisheries. While red porgy is not undergoing overfishing, the assessment update concluded the stock is still overfished and reductions in the ACL are necessary.
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18 includes management actions for both vermilion snapper and red porgy, based on recommendations from the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee that include new catch levels for both species. The Council is scheduled to approve the amendment for submission to the Secretary of Commerce during its March 4-8, 2013 meeting in St. Simons Island, GA.
The amendment includes the following five actions:
The SAFMC and the GMFMC will hold a meeting of the Joint Committee on South Florida Management Issues.
The meeting will be held via Webinar on Monday, February 25, 2013, from 12:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The SEDAR 32 assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of gray triggerfish and blueline tilefish will consist of: a Data Workshop; a series of Assessment Webinars; and a Review Workshop.
The SEDAR 32 Data Workshop will be held from 1 p.m. on February 11, 2013 until 1 p.m. on February 15, 2013; the Assessment Webinars and Review Workshop dates and times will publish in a subsequent issue in the Federal Register.
The meetings will be held from 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013. See below for specific dates and times. AP's include MPA Expert Workgroup, Law Enforcement, Information & Education and Law Enforcement.