Lines of Communication Meetings
Lines of Communication: Conversations with the Council, or simply “Lines,” is a new Council initiative aimed toward building relationships with fisheries stakeholders and providing an opportunity for mutual sharing of information. Unlike other outreach efforts and public comment opportunities, Lines allows attendees to actively discuss their perspectives with local Council members, Council staff, and other fishery participants.
Lines meetings will be held in-person throughout the South Atlantic, meeting fishermen in their communities. By engaging in a more informal setting, Council members aim to build and strengthen relationships with fishery stakeholders, ultimately increasing engagement in the management process. The Council understands that building relationships and momentum for participation in the management process requires consistent effort over time, so Lines is now a regular part of the Council’s yearly activities.
Goals and Objectives
- Provide an opportunity for an open dialogue and mutual learning between Council members and stakeholders.
- Increase knowledge of the fisheries management process to encourage stakeholder engagement in Council initiatives.
- Provide a mechanism for stakeholders to bring concerns and observations directly to Council members.
- Allow Council members to share information on notable management issues with stakeholders.
When and Where
The Council will hold Lines of Communication meetings twice a year in two different states. Specific meeting locations and dates will be posted as soon as they are available.
Georgia (week of November 10, 2025)
North Carolina (week of February 2, 2026)
Winter 2026/2027 meetings in South Carolina and Florida are currently being planned, so stay tuned!
What to Expect
Lines provides an opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics with local Council members. Most importantly, these meetings provide stakeholders with an opportunity to bring their concerns and observations forward directly to local Council members. In turn, it provides Council members with an opportunity to share information on important management efforts.
Here are some example topics:
- Let Council members know what is most important to your fishery.
- Discuss the most important components and tradeoffs for a successful fishing trip.
- Learn how to get involved in the fisheries management process.
- Learn how your data can be used to inform science and management.
- Discuss how releases are affecting your fishery and the management of important fisheries.
Lines are Different from Public Comment
Public comment, while a valuable part of the fisheries management process, does not allow for two-way conversations between Council members and fisheries stakeholders. In addition, public comment sessions often focus on specific actions or issues on the Council’s agenda, not allowing time for stakeholders to discuss other concerns. Lines will provide a platform for attendees to voice concerns pertinent to them or what they are seeing on the water.
Lines of Communication meetings will also provide stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about the federal fisheries management process and current events, so that attendees will have the information they need to become more involved in the management process.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone! The more input the Council receives, the more informed they will be when making recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Outcomes
These meetings are intended to be proactive and forward-looking. As such, Council members intend to use this information in the following ways:
- Identify topics that need to be addressed by the Council.
- Set overall workload priorities.
- Guide active management actions.
At the Council meeting following a Lines meeting, local Council members will present their key takeaways from Lines for full Council consideration. Additionally, staff will prepare a summary report for Council members that will be available online.