Marine Protected Areas
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a network of marine environments managed to recover overfished stocks and maintain healthy fish stocks, fisheries, and associated habitats. SAFMC MPAs may include naturally occurring, artificial bottom, or water column habitats. They may prohibit harvest on seasonal or permanent time periods to achieve desired fishery management goals.
Use the interactive map and drop-down menus below to explore the Council’s MPAs.
Deep-water MPAs
Eight MPAs are in place in the South Atlantic to protect a portion of the long-lived, “deep water” snapper grouper species such as snowy grouper, speckled hind, and blueline tilefish. The MPAs range in size and include both natural habitats and artificial reefs.
A System Management Plan review evaluates the efficacy of the MPAs in meeting management objectives. A System Management Plan Workgroup recommends items including research and monitoring, outreach and education, resource protection, management effectiveness, and site characterizations of the protected areas.
Deep-water MPA Regulations
- No fishing for or possession of any snapper grouper species.
- No bottom longline gear allowed.
- Vessels (both commercial and recreational) may transit (direct, non-stop progression) through the MPAs with snapper grouper species onboard with fishing gear appropriately stowed.
- Trolling for pelagic species such as tuna, dolphin, mackerel, and billfish is allowed within the MPAs.
Deep-water MPA Descriptions
Oculina Experimental Closed Area
In 1994, the South Atlantic Council created the Oculina Experimental Closed Area (OECA), which closed the area to all bottom fishing indefinitely in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the reserve for the management and conservation of snapper grouper populations. The OECA is located within the Oculina Bank HAPC.
Oculina Experimental Closed Area Restrictions
In the closed area, no person may:
- May fish for snapper-grouper species in the area or retain snapper-grouper in or from the area (any snapper-grouper taken incidentally by hook-and-line gear must be released immediately by cutting the line without removing the fish from the water).
- Use a bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot, or trap.
- If aboard a fishing vessel, anchor, use an anchor and chain, or use a grapple and chain.
- Fish for rock shrimp or possess rock shrimp in or from the area on board a fishing vessel.
- The possession of Oculina coral is prohibited.
Spawning Special Management Zones
The Council established five Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) that became effective on July 31, 2017. This final rule prohibits fishing for or harvesting of snapper-grouper species year-round in the spawning SMZs. The final rule establishes other restrictions in the spawning SMZs, including transiting with snapper-grouper species on board and anchoring.
Fish reproduce by spawning, releasing tens of thousands of eggs and sperm into the water to be fertilized. Some species spawn by gathering in large numbers in areas with favorable ocean currents and habitats. Some of these important spawning areas were identified during the development of Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 and were designated as spawning SMZs.
To help protect spawning populations, fishing for or possession of species within the snapper grouper management complex is prohibited within these areas. The spawning areas, established in Amendment 36 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, are thought to be crucial multi-species spawning hot spots.
System Management Plan for Spawning SMZs
The Council, along with state and Federal partners, has developed and approved a System Management Plan (SMP) for the Spawning SMZs to serve as a blueprint for future research, outreach, and management. The SMP, by outlining data gaps, research needs, and estimated project costs, will serve as a guide for researchers applying for project funding. In turn, the management action items and evaluation metrics included in the SMP serve as a tool to guide managers in evaluating whether the goals and objectives of proposed Spawning SMZs are being met.
Spawning SMZ Regulations
- Inside the spawning SMZ, fishing for, retention, and possession of fish species in the snapper-grouper complex are prohibited year-round by all fishers.
- Anchoring inside spawning SMZs is prohibited (except for Areas 51 and 53).
- Transit through the spawning SMZs with snapper-grouper species onboard is allowed if the gear is properly stowed.