South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

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March 2026 Council Meeting

Date/Time:
March 2, 2026 - March 6, 2026
Location:
Villas by the Sea Resort, 1175 N. Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
meeting agenda
news release
briefing book

Meeting Agenda & Briefing Materials

Except for advertised public hearings and public comment sessions, the timing of agenda items may change.

The public comment session (Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, 4 p.m.), will allow for in-person and remote (via webinar) verbal public comment. Individuals intending to provide comments remotely are asked to sign up HERE. Those intending to provide verbal public comment in person will be asked to sign in at the meeting.

Written Comments:

Read public comments
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Written comments submitted by mail/fax received by close of business the Monday before the meeting (February 23rd, 2026) will be compiled, posted to the website as part of the meeting materials, and included in the administrative record.

Monday, March 2nd, 2026 

Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-Committee 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

  1. Commercial Management Measures (Amendment 60)
    1. Attachment 1a: Amendment 60 Decision Document 
    2. Attachment 1b: SERO Permits and Call-in System Presentation
    3. Attachment 1c: Trip Limit Analyses Presentation

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 

Council Session I  8:30 am – 12:00 noon 

  1. Reports
    1. Attachment 1a: Gulf Council Liaison Report 
    2. Attachment 1b: Mid-Atlantic Council Liaison Report (also in Recent Docs)
    3. Attachment 1c: Staff Report
    4. Attachment 1d: Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Report
    5. Attachment 1e: Resilient Fisheries Projects Report (also in Recent Docs)
    6. Attachment 1f: Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel Report 
    7. Attachment 1g: Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel Report Presentation
    8. Attachment 1h: Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel Annual Report for 2025
    9. Attachment 1i: Shrimp Workgroup Update
    10. Attachment 1j: Protected Resources Report

Lunch 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm

Council Session I 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

  1. Update on NMFS’ Value/Risk Matrix for Managed Stocks
    1. Attachment 2a: NMFS’ Update to EDs on proposed risk/value matrix for managed stocks, January 2026 
    2. Attachment 2b: CCC response to NMFS’ risk/value matrix  
    3. Attachment 2c: NMFS’ Update to SAFMC on risk/value matrix (also in Recent Docs)
  2. SAFMC comments on Proposed Rule for Commercial Atlantic Blacknose Shark and Recreational Atlantic Shark Fisheries
    1. Attachment 3a: Draft Comments
    2. Attachment 3b: Summary Presentation
    3. Attachment 3c: Draft Environmental Assessment

Snapper Grouper Committee 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 

Snapper Grouper Committee 8:30 am – 12:00 noon

  1. Attachment 1: Amendment 60 Commercial Sub-Committee Report (available at meeting)
  2. Attachment 2: Spawning Special Management Zones Update Presentation
  3. Headboat Vessel Limits
    1. Attachment 3a: Headboat Vessel Limits Update presentation 
    2. Attachment 3b: Headboat Vessel Limits Report  
  4. Vermilion Snapper Allocation Review
    1. Attachment 4a: Allocations Review Discussion Document 
    2. Attachment 4b: Allocations Review Summary Presentation 

Lunch 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm

Snapper Grouper Committee 1:30 pm – 3:45 pm 

  1. Amendment 61 (Revisions to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit Revision)
    1. Attachment 5a: Amendment 61 Decision Document
    2. Attachment 5b: Amendment 61 Summary Presentation 
  2. Attachment 6: Amendment 56 (Black Sea Bass) Follow-up

Public comments 4:00 pm

Public comment will be accepted from individuals attending the meeting (in-person and remotely) regarding any of the items on the Council agenda. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter. Those intending to provide verbal public comment via webinar can sign up HERE.

Thursday, March 5th, 2026  

Snapper Grouper Committee 8:30 am – 12:00 noon 

  1. Attachment 7: Recreational Angler Attitudes and Preferences in the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery (also in Recent Docs)
  2. Attachment 8: Amendment 44 (Yellowtail Snapper & Mutton Snapper) Update (also in Recent Docs)
  3. Attachment 9: Snapper Grouper Innovation Plan – Draft Goalposts and Principles (also in Recent Docs)

Lunch 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm

SEDAR Committee 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

  1. Attachment 1: SEDAR Steering Committee
    1.  Attachment 1a: SEDAR Steering Committee Overview
    2. Attachment 1b: SEDAR Steering Committee 2025 South Atlantic Government Shutdown Impacts 
  2. Attachment 2: SEDAR Process Updates 
    1.  Attachment 2a: New SEDAR Infographic
    2. Attachment 2b: South Atlantic Terms of Reference Development Timeline 
    3. Attachment 2c: Assessment Component Tracking Spreadsheet 
  3. Attachment 3: Statement of Work and Terms of Reference for Upcoming Assessments (also in Recent Docs)
  4. Attachment 4: SEDAR Committee Scope and Name Change

Council Session II 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

  1. Attachment 1: Dolphin Management Strategy Evaluation Update (also available in Recent Docs) 
  2. SAFMC plan submitted in response to Executive Order 14276 (Seafood Competitiveness)
    1. Attachment 2a: SAFMC letter responding to EO 14276
    2. Attachment 2b: Summary of public comments received on EO 14276
  3. Attachment 3: Topics for Outreach and Communication Advisory Panel

Friday, March 6th, 2026 

Council Session II 8:30 am – 12:00 noon 

  1. SAFMC Workplan
    1. Attachment 4a: SAFMC Workplan Q1 2026 
    2. Attachment 4b: draft project plan for wreckfish ITQ review (also in Recent Docs)
    3. Attachment 4c: ASMFC Coastal Pelagics Board Report 
  2. Attachment 5: Upcoming 2026 Meetings 

Other business

Adjourn

Villas by the Sea Resort Jekyll Island.
Villas by the Sea, Jekyll Island, GA 

Additional materials