Generic Amendments

Ecosystem-based management The South Atlantic Council also develops amendments that are broad in scope that address a specific topic in several fisheries. For example, the Council works on amendments dealing with data collection, reporting and framework issues that would affect several fisheries managed by the Council. Often, these amendments have implications for management measures in other regions (Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, etc.)and are developed jointly with other Councils.

Amendments Under Development

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Generic Dealer Amendment

Effective August 7, 2014, the action modifies permitting and reporting requirements for seafood dealers who first receive federally managed species. This action is intended to improve the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness of data reporting by dealers who first receive federally managed species. Currently, there are five federal dealer permits in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Regions, and the permits and reporting requirements are different depending on the species purchased. Currently, federally permitted Gulf of Mexico reef fish and South Atlantic snapper-grouper (excluding wreckfish) dealers are required to submit dealer purchase forms once every two weeks via fax or on-line, and South Atlantic golden crab, rock shrimp, and Atlantic dolphin-wahoo dealers are required to submit purchase forms once a month via fax or on-line. The action requires a dealer permit to first receive the following additional species: Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics and spiny lobster, and Gulf of Mexico red drum. The action creates a single dealer permit that would allow the holder to first receive any of the species managed under the eight fishery management plans.

The following new dealer reporting requirements will be effective beginning August 7, 2014:

(1) Purchase forms would be submitted on-line, once per week, with the exception of dealers reporting purchases of king mackerel landed by the gillnet sector for the Gulf West Coast Florida Southern Sub Zone who would be required to submit forms daily by 6:00 a.m.

(2) If no purchase is made, a no-purchase form must be submitted via the same process and frequency as a purchase form.

(3) A dealer would only be authorized to receive the specified federally managed species if the dealer’s previous reports have been submitted and received by NMFS.

Final Rule

Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Generic Headboat Reporting Amendment

The For Hire Reporting Amendment, includes:

Amendment 31 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region;
Amendment 6 for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic; and
Amendment 22 for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.

The For-Hire Reporting Amendment will require headboat vessels fishing in the South Atlantic for snapper-grouper, dolphin and wahoo, and coastal migratory pelagics to submit weekly electronic fishing records to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center Science and Research Director, or at intervals shorter than a week if notified by the Science and Research Director.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Conserving and managing America's fisheries from three to 200 miles off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.