Amendments Under Development - Overview and Public Comments
Using the link below, learn about the proposed actions in each amendment under development by the Council, view the most recent amendment document, see the current timeline for amendment development, and submit comments using the online comment form for each amendment under development.
Fishery Management Plans
The Council currently manages eight fisheries. These fisheries include coastal migratory pelagics (mackerel & cobia); coral and live bottom habitat; dolphin and wahoo; golden crab; shrimp; snapper grouper; spiny lobster, and Sargassum. Read each amendment developed under each fishery management plan below.
You can learn more about fishery allocations within these management plans at the following link: https://safmc.net/allocations-in-fishery-management/
Coastal Migratory Pelagics(Mackerel & Cobia)
Managed jointly with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, this fishery management plan includes king and Spanish mackerel, and cobia.
Coral
The Coral, Coral Reef, and Live/Hardbottom Habitat Fishery Management Plan optimizes the benefits generated from the South Atlantic's coral resource while conserving the coral and coral reefs.
Dolphin/Wahoo
Approved in 2004, the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery Management Plan represents a precautionary approach to management.
Ecosystem-Based Amendments
The Council's ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management builds on the biological, economic, and social information presented in the Fishery Ecosystem.
Golden Crab
This specialized deepwater commercial crab fishery was established in the early 1990s following the prohibition of fish traps in the snapper grouper fishery.
Habitat
Through a collaborative process among many regional partners, the Council consolidated the best available information on habitat essential to species managed in the South Atlantic region in to a Habitat Plan.
Sargassum
Approved in 2003, the management plan protects Sargassum, a free-floating seaweed found throughout the blue waters of the South Atlantic from extensive commercial harvest.
Shrimp
The commercial shrimp fishery is one of the most economically important in the nation. With the ability to close federal waters to protect spawning white shrimp.
Snapper Grouper
Of the 75 species managed by the Council, 55 are included in the snapper/grouper complex. Because of its mixed-species nature, this fishery is challenging to manage.
Spiny Lobster
Adult spiny lobsters make their homes in the protected crevices and caverns of coral reefs, sponge flats, and other hard-bottomed areas.
Generic Amendments
See the latest fishery management amendments related to data collection and more.