The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a series of scoping meetings and public hearings pertaining to Amendment 5 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 27 to the Snapper Grouper FMP.
The meetings will be held from January 22, 2013, through January 24, 2013 and from January 28, 2013, through January 30, 2013. All meetings will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The SEDAR 30 assessments of the Caribbean blue tang and queen triggerfish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: This notice is for a webinar associated with the Assessment portion of the SEDAR process.
The SEDAR 30 assessment webinar I will be held on January 10, 2013, from 10 a.m. to approximately 12 noon eastern time. The established times may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the assessment process. Such adjustment may result in the meeting being extended from, or completed prior to, the time established by this notice.
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. This notice is for a webinar associated with the Data portion of the SEDAR process. Webinar is open to the public.
DATES: The SEDAR 32 data Webinar will be held on January 16, 2013, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The established time may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the data workshop process. Such adjustments may result in the meeting being extended from, or completed prior to, the time established by this notice.
Yellowtail snapper limits increase, trigger for shallow water grouper removed, red snapper dates set for 2013
Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council met last week in Wilmington, North Carolina to discuss a wide range of federal fisheries issues, including management of several species within the snapper grouper management complex, habitat protection for deepwater corals, and improvements to data collection. The Council considered public input as well as recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee and various advisory panels before it approved three amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for review by the Secretary of Commerce. The following amendments were approved by the Council last week for submission to the Secretary:
The recreational harvest of snook will close in all Atlantic waters, including the inland waters of Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, beginning Dec. 15, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 14. The season will reopen in the Atlantic’s state and federal waters Feb. 1, 2013.
Snook season is currently closed in Gulf of Mexico state and federal waters, and will remain closed through Aug. 31, 2013, to give the fish time to fully rebound from severe cold weather in 2010 that killed many snook.
To achieve long-term survival for 60 imperiled wildlife species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed a new conservation model at its meeting in Apalachicola.
Creating the Imperiled Species Management Plan will define measurable objectives and actions to manage and conserve these animals to keep them part of Florida’s wildlife forever.
Staff updated Commissioners on how they will integrate broad conservation strategies with specific actions for each wildlife species. The Imperiled Species Management Plan will include habitat conservation; wildlife management; measurable objectives (including timeframes); possible incentives, potential rule recommendations; and consideration of economic, ecological and social impacts.
Meeting in Apalachicola, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved, with contingencies, the city of Stuart/Martin County’s proposed ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the FWC.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made several changes to black sea bass management in Atlantic state waters at its Dec. 5 Commission meeting in Apalachicola. These changes will help rebuild the Atlantic black sea bass population for future generations of recreational and commercial fishers.
Changes, effective Feb. 1, 2013, include:
NMFS solicits nominations for the Advisory Panel (AP) for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops (this AP is also called the ``SEDAR Pool'').
The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals whom may be selected to consider data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information, including but not limited to data and models, used in stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for a 3-year appointment (2013-2015). Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.
Nominations must be received on or before December 20, 2012.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet December 3 - 7, 2012 in Wilmington, NC.
The meeting will be held at the following location: Hilton Riverside 301 North Water Street Wilmington, NC Phone: 1-888-324-8170 or 910-763-5900
Agenda Highlights