South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Conserving and managing America's fisheries from three to 200 nautical miles off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
SAFMC, headquartered in Charleston, S.C., is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida to Key West.
The role of the council is to develop fishery management plans needed to manage fishery resources within federal waters. The area encompassing federal waters, sometimes referred to as the Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ, extends offshore from state waters (three miles in the South Atlantic) to 200 nautical miles.
Read More
Fishery Management
Plans/Amendments
Coastal Migratory Pelagics, Coral, Dolphin/Wahoo, Ecosystem-Based Amendments, Generic Amendments, Golden Crab, Habitat, Sargassum, Shrimp, Snapper Grouper, Spiny Lobster
Regulations
Regulations by Species, Regulation Fact Sheets/Other Resources, Fishing Season Calendar & Closures
Meetings
Calendar, Council Meetings, Public Hearings & Scoping Meetings, Advisory Panel Meetings, SSC/SEP Meetings, Other Meetings
News
& Announcements
Council News Releases, Council Newsletters, Other Fishery News, Regulatory Notices
Managed
Areas
Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, Spawning Special Management Zones, Special Management Zones, Coral HAPCs (Deepwater Coral, Oculina Bank, Oculina Experimental Closed Area)
Science &
Statistics
SEDAR Stock Assessment Program, Scientific & Statistical Committee & Socio-Economic Panel, Citizen Science Program
Facebook Feed
Marine debris affects the health of our oceans. You can help track this debris with @MarineDebrisTracker, a citizen science app that allows users to report the debris they see on the water. Join the thousands of citizen scientists that have logged over 2 million pieces of litter or debris all over the world! Information on how to get involved and project data are available at: marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/
#CitSciFri
Marine Debris Tracker | An open data citizen science tool, powered by Morgan Stanley
marinedebris.engr.uga.edu
Marine Debris Tracker07/10/20 ·
Watch this video for a quick #DIY on how to make a descending device using gear you might already have in your tackle box.
Beginning July 15, 2020, all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species in federal waters off NC, SC, GA, and East FL are required to have a descending device on board and readily available for use. The descending device must be attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 ft of line.
There are many different types of descending devices that you can buy, but if you'd prefer to make your own, there are lots of ways to rig a descending device with gear you might already have. Get additional information on descending devices and best fishing practices by visiting the following link: safmc.net/best-fishing-practices/.
Descending devices help reduce the effects of barotrauma, a condition that occurs when a fish is rapidly reeled up from depth. Changes in pressure cause the fish’s swim bladder to expand, filling the body cavity with air and preventing the fish from swimming back down. Signs of barotrauma include protrusion of the stomach from the fish’s mouth, bulging eyes, anal prolapse and bubbling scales. A descending device can quickly be used to transport the fish back to depth, greatly improving its chances of survival.
To use a descending device like the one rigged in this video, attach it to a rod using a snap swivel and have it out and ready for use. When you need to release a fish showing signs of barotrauma, hook the fish in the lower jaw, drop the fish overboard and down to the depth at which it was caught, and then release the fish by tugging the line so it falls off the barbless hook.
07/09/20 ·
With new requirements for descending devices and hooks going into effect next week in federal waters of the South Atlantic, be sure to visit this page on our website for helpful tips and important information!
safmc.net/best-fishing-practices/
Don't forget that the recreational harvest of red snapper reopens this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (7/10, 7/11, and 7/12) and again next Friday (7/17).
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources NC Dept of Environmental QualityMyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Coastal Resources Division - Georgia DNR
safmc.net
Since we are all invested in the future of fisheries in the South Atlantic, we each share a responsibility to use best fishing practices when catching and releasing fish. Whether you are releasing a f07/08/20 ·
Myfishcount is offering a free bag to folks who enter this month's contest. Go check it out and make your catch count in fisheries management.EVERYONE wins in July! 😎😎😎Tag 3 friends below and pm a screenshot of your @myfishcount profile and we will send you a sweet sunglasses bag that you can use to carry your shades, clean the fish finder, and more! Tag away!
.
.
.
#myfishcount #fishing #fishingshades #sunglasses #makeyourcatchcount #logyourcatch #tag3friends #spreadtheword #fishingsunglasses #bestfishingpractices #catchandrelease #fishingisfun #letsgofishing #recreationalfishing #fishfordinner
07/07/20 ·
Check out this compelling video of a red grouper returning to depth with the help of a descending device.
New descending device requirements for all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic become effective July 15, 2020.
Learn more: safmc.net/best-fishing-practices/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHHCoHF9rNQ
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources NC Dept of Environmental Quality Coastal Resources Division - Georgia DNR MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Salt Water Sportsman Florida Sportsman Magazine Sport Fishing Magazine InTheBite Magazine National Fisherman
Red grouper with barotrauma recompressed with SeaQualizer descender device - NC State CMAST
www.youtube.com
Watch a large red grouper be descended with a SeaQualizer device. This fish survived being caught and released.07/06/20 ·
E-News Sign Up