News & Updates
Sign up for E-News and receive SAFMC news releases, announcements, and bi-monthly issues of the South Atlantic Bite newsletter. Relevant Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries are also forwarded from the Council office as a courtesy.
Two Deserving State Law Enforcement Officers Receive the SAFMC Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award
Each year, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council recognizes the importance of law enforcement in federal fisheries management by presenting the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. This year, two nominees were selected to receive the award. Private First-Class Jason Dozier with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Game Warden First Class Matt Tsiklistas with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources were presented the 2022 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award during the Council’s September meeting in Charleston, South Carolina.
The South Atlantic Bite
Robert Spottswood, Jr. will become the newest member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council when the Council convenes its September 11-15, 2023 meeting in Charleston. Appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, Robert will join Council member Kerry Marhefka, who was reappointed by the Secretary to serve a second term, as they both assume their At-large seats in September.
The South Atlantic Bite
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled to meet at the Town and Country Inn in Charleston, South Carolina the week of September 11th.
The South Atlantic Bite
Tune in next Tuesday as the Council’s Seminar Series continues with a fascinating look at new technology developed to reduce fishing gear entanglement risk to migrating North Atlantic Right Whales.
East Coast Fishery Management Organizations Release Suite of Potential Actions to Help Managers Respond to the Effects of Climate Change on Marine Fisheries
Over the past two years, marine fishery management organizations along the U.S. East Coast have been exploring governance and management issues related to climate change and fishery stock distributions. This effort recognizes the profound impact that climate change is having on our ocean ecosystems and coastlines and the need to plan for how fishery management organizations and coastal communities can best adapt to these changes in a thoughtful and deliberate way.
The South Atlantic Bite
The Council will hold a series of public hearings via webinar next week for proposed measures affecting reporting requirements for federally-permitted commercial fishermen. The Comprehensive Amendment Addressing Electronic Reporting for Commercial Vessels is being developed collaboratively with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
Council Seeks Public Input on Commercial Electronic Logbooks
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearings via webinar later this month for proposed measures affecting reporting requirements for federally-permitted commercial fishermen.
The South Atlantic Bite
The Council’s Seminar Series continues in July with a presentation from Gulf of Maine Research Institute staff entitled “Simulated larval dispersal of snapper-grouper species to evaluate the efficacy of spawning Special Management Zones”. The presentation involves five Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) designated off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
SAFMC Recruitment Announcement: SEDAR Coordinator
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a coordinator for the
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review Program (SEDAR) to assist with planning and
managing stock assessment projects.
Federal Fishery Managers Move Forward with Measures for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is considering modifying catch levels for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel following the latest stock assessment indicating the stock is neither overfished nor undergoing overfishing. The decision was made as Council members convened this week in St. Augustine, Florida to address a wide variety of federal fishery management issues.
