The South Atlantic Bite

Posted October 8, 2025

Newsworthy Notes – October 8th, 2025

Tuesday, October 14 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Webinar Registration

The Council’s Science Seminar Series continues this month with a focus on how citizen science is playing a role in fisheries data collection. The SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimate) Project uses trained citizen scientist divers with laser-mounted “FishSense” cameras and AI to generate accurate size data while fish remain virtually undisturbed. This data is especially helpful in filling in data gaps for economically and environmentally important reef fish such as hogfish, snapper, and grouper.

Jen Loch from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is the guest presenter and will share early results from the SMILE Project, demonstrate interactive data displays, and highlight diver motivations for participating in citizen science. Learn more about this and other presentations offered through the Council’s Science Seminar Series by visiting the Council’s website.

Interested in Citizen Science and fisheries? Take a dive (pun intended) into the Council’s Citizen Science Program and see how projects like SMILE and others are benefiting fisheries management by filling data gaps. Have ideas for a new project? Use the Citizen Science Idea Portal to share your thoughts and suggestions!

Lines of Communication: Conversations with the Council

Council initiative kicks off with November meetings in Georgia

A new initiative by members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council aims to build relationships with fisheries stakeholders and offer an avenue for mutual sharing of information. Known as Lines of Communication: Conversations with the Council, or “Lines” for short, the initiative involves in-person meetings in fishing communities that allow attendees to actively discuss their concerns and perspectives directly with Council members in an informal setting.

Unlike public hearings, Lines of Communication meetings are hosted by area Council representatives with the goal to have an open, two-way dialogue and mutual learning from local constituents. Lines meetings will be held in person throughout the South Atlantic, beginning with a series of meetings scheduled for early November in Georgia. The meetings will be facilitated, and both Council members and staff will be available throughout the evening. Registration is not required, but an RSVP for the Georgia meetings will be helpful.

Upcoming Lines of Communication Meetings

Note: Meetings will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Lines of Communication is an ongoing initiative, with two series of meeting held in two states within the Council’s jurisdiction annually. Following the Georgia meetings, the next series of meetings is planned for North Carolina in early February 2026. Learn more about Lines of Communication: Conversations with the Council by visiting the Council’s website: https://safmc.net/lines-of-communication-meetings/

Measures Proposed to Address Decline in Black Sea Bass Stock

Public hearings scheduled for November

Both fishery dependent and fishery independent data show that Black Sea Bass numbers in the South Atlantic region continue to decline. During its September 2025 meeting, the Council decided to move forward quickly to address concerns through management measures proposed in Regulatory Amendment 37 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The regulatory amendment proposes changes to recreational minimum size limits, reductions in the bag limit, and a spawning season closure for both commercial and recreational sectors for a minimum of two months. The amendment would establish recreational and commercial annual catch targets (ACTs) equal to 50% of the average landings of Black Sea Bass from 2019-2024. The Council would reconsider the ACTs and associated measures two years after implementation. Additional actions will be considered through Amendment 56 to the Snapper Grouper FMP.

Additional information, including a video presentation and a public hearing document, will be available from the Council’s website as it becomes available.

Regulatory Amendment 37 Public Hearings

Two public hearings will be held via webinar, the first on Monday, November 3rd and the second on Wednesday, November 12th. Both hearings will begin at 6 p.m. Council staff will provide an overview of actions being considered in the amendment and answer any clarifying questions. Following the presentation and questions, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on the amendment. Register now to attend a public hearing via webinar and receive email reminders as the date approaches.

Public comment will also be accepted during the Council’s December 8-12, 2025 meeting in Kitty Hawk, NC. The Council will consider all public comments during its December meeting and is scheduled to approve Regulatory Amendment 37 for review by the Secretary of Commerce and implementation in 2026.

Additional Snippets:

Grouper Calls – Research Answers

Decade-long Acoustic Recordings Reveal Changes in Grouper Grunts

Florida Atlantic University scientists have unlocked new insights into the calls of Red Hind groupers using more than 12 years of underwater audio recordings. These Caribbean fish travel more than 18 miles each winter to gather at offshore spawning sites under full moons. Males make two distinct low-frequency sounds – one to court females and another to defend territory. Read the feature story from FAU for details on how these sounds may indicate changes in the population.

MAPOceans Act Passes Senate

The MAPOceans Act (Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act) aims to standardize, digitize, and map fishing restrictions in federal waters. According to a recent article by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the new legislation would modernize accessibility to saltwater recreational fishing regulations and marine waters navigation information. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine).

Mark Your Calendar

Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the Meetings page of the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available. Register early and receive email reminders as the meeting date(s) approach!