Current Public Hearing & Scoping Meeting Schedule- January/February 2016
AMENDMENTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING: |
AMENDMENTS FOR SCOPING: |
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Atlantic For-Hire Reporting Amendment - Actions to require mandatory electronic reporting for charter vessels and modifies existing reporting requirements for headboats. Snapper Grouper Amendment 37 - Actions to modify management measures for hogfish Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 26 - Actions to modify management measures for Atlantic & Gulf of Mexico king mackerel |
Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 - Specify management measures for mutton snapper including modifications to the recreational bag limit. |
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QUICK LINKS: Click on the quick links below to direct you to information on the public hearing and scoping meetings, including: |
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Meeting Schedule | Meeting Materials | Amendment Overview | Submitting Comments |
See Public Hearing & Scoping Meeting Archives here.
Meeting Schedule - Meeting Dates and Locations
Below is the schedule for Q&A webinars with Council staff and the schedule of public hearing and scoping meetings.
Q&A webinars provide the public opportunity to watch a presentation on each amendment and ask Council staff questions prior to the public hearing meetings. Public hearing and scoping meetings provide the public opportunity to talk with local Council representatives and provide formal comment on the record about each amendment.
The Council will also accept written comments through 5:00 PM on February 10, 2016. See below for instructions on submitting written comments.
Q&A Webinar with Staff - |
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January 20, 2016 CMP Amendment 26 and For-Hire Reporting Amendment Click HERE to Register |
January 21, 2016 Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 and Snapper Grouper Amendment 37 Click HERE to Register |
Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings - |
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January 25, 2016 Richmond Hill City Center |
January 26, 2016 Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport |
January 27, 2016 Murrells Inlet Community Center |
January 28, 2016 NC Division of Marine Fisheries, Central District Office |
February 1, 2016 Hilton Garden Inn *Hearing held in conjunction with FL FWC |
February 2, 2016 Hawks Cay Resort *Hearing held in conjunction with FL FWC |
February 3, 2016 Marriott Beachside Hotel *Hearing held in conjunction with FL FWC |
February 3, 2016 International Palms Resort & Conference Center *Hearing held in conjunction with the SAFMC Mackerel Advisory Panel meeting scheduled for 12PM - 4PM. |
For-Hire Reporting Amendment and CMP Amendment 26 Public Hearing via Webinar February 8, 2016 |
Amendment Overview:
Scoping -
Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 - Includes actions to specify the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), Maximum Stock Size Threshold (MSST), revise the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) and Optimum Yield (OY) and recreational Annual Catch Target (ACT). The amendment also includes options to modify the recreational bag limit.
Public Hearing -
Atlantic Generic Charter/For-Hire Reporting Amendment - The amendment will effect the fishery management plans for Snapper Grouper, Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo and Coastal Migratory Pelagic fisheries. The amendment includes actions to require mandatory electronic reporting for charter (six-pack) vessels and modifies existing reporting requirements for . The reporting requirements would affect vessels involved in the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper fishery, Dolphin Wahoo fishery, and Coastal Migratory Pelagic fishery along the Atlantic coast.headboats.
Snapper Grouper Amendment 37 - The amendment includes actions to modify the management boundary between the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, establish two separate stocks in the South Atlantic with a “Georgia/North Carolina” stock and a “Florida Keys/East Florida” stock for management purposes, specify the MSY, MSST, ACLs and ACTs for both stocks and establish a rebuilding plan for the Florida Keys/East Florida stock. The rebuilding plan includes measures to increase the minimum size limit, establish a commercial trip limit, reduce the recreational bag limit, and establish a recreational fishing season. The amendment would also establish Accountability Measures for both stocks.
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 26 - Actions in the amendment include modifying the management/stock boundary for Gulf and Atlantic migratory groups of king mackerel, updating the biological reference points and revising the ABC, OY, ACLs and recreational ACT for Atlantic Group king mackerel, creating an incidental catch allowance of Atlantic group king mackerel caught in the shark gillnet fishery, establishing split season commercial quotas for harvest of Atlantic group king mackerel in the Southern Zone, and establishing boundaries and trip limits for a [new] Florida East Coast management zone for Atlantic group king mackerel.
Meeting Materials: Amendment Documents & Presentations
Note: View all of the video presentations at the SAFMC YouTube channel! Look at the January 2016 Public Hearing Amendments playlist and choose which presentation to watch.
Snapper Grouper Amendment 41Presentation (pdf) Video presentation (link to YouTube) |
For-Hire Reporting AmendmentPresentation (pdf) revised 1/27 Video presentation (link to YouTube) |
Snapper Grouper Amendment 37Presentation (pdf) Video presentation (link to YouTube) |
CMP Amendment 26Presentation (pdf) Video presentation (link to YouTube) |
Submitting Public Comment
Written comments can be submitted through:
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E-mail - mike.collins@safmc.net (Please reference the name of the amendment you are submitting comments about in the subject line of your e-mail.)
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Fax - 843. 769.4520
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Mail - Send written comments to Gregg Waugh, Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.
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Deadline for written comments - February 10, 2016 (by 5:00 PM)
Public Hearings - How They WorkPublic hearings are considered an important step in the management process because they give stakeholders an opportunity to,
Public hearings are typically held in January and August each year but can also be given at other times of the year if there is an emergency measure that needs to be considered for a fishery. During the public hearing, Council staff provides an overview of each draft amendment and are available to informally answer questions. Members of the public can also informally talk with local Council member representatives prior to sitting down before the Council members in attendance and going on record to provide public testimony about the proposed management measures. Public hearing information is posted on the Council's website and includes the public hearing schedule (dates/locations), amendment overviews, public hearing amendment documents and instructions for submitting written comment. In an effort to improve outreach and communication about the draft amendments, Council staff provide live Q&A sessions via webinar one week prior to each round of public hearings. Registration is required and is posted on the public hearing page below. Click for Public Hearings and Scoping Meeting Archives |