Council Seeks Applicants for Federal Fishery Advisory Panels and Workgroup
Interested in federal fisheries management and want to become more involved? Apply now for open seats on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s advisory panels or to serve as a fishing representative on the System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The SMP Workgroup addresses the needs of managed areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic. The Workgroup includes ecologists, coral scientists, mapping specialists, researchers, law enforcement and outreach representatives, and commercial and recreational fishermen. The Council’s advisory panels inform and guide the Council in developing and implementing federal fishery management plans and amendments. Upcoming issues to be addressed by advisory panel members in 2023 include a holistic approach to managing the snapper grouper fishery through a Management Strategy Evaluation and options for recreational permits, options for Dolphin management along the Atlantic coast, Spanish Mackerel management measures and mackerel port meetings, conservation of newly discovered deep water coral ecosystems, and input on law enforcement issues affecting several fisheries.
Members of the Council’s advisory panels include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as environmental groups and fishing organizations and concerned citizens. Seats on advisory panels may be allotted by state and fishery sector, with others considered “at large” and open to any interested person. Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council to three-year terms and may be reappointed for
two additional terms. The Council’s advisory panels generally meet once or twice each year and members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses. Applications are now being solicited for the following positions:
System Management Plan Workgroup: (1) NC Recreational and (1) SC Commercial Representative
Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel: (2) Open Seats for Mid-Atlantic Representatives
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel: (1) NC Seat, (1) SC Seat, and (1) GA Seat
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel: (1) Open Seat
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel: (2) Open Seats
Shrimp Advisory Panel: (4) Open Seats
Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel: (1) NC Commercial and (2) NC Charter Seats; (1) SC
Commercial and (2) SC Recreational/Charter Seats; (1) GA Open Seat; and (3) FL Commercial Seats and (2) FL Recreational Seats
How to Apply
Detailed instructions on how to apply and application forms for individual advisory panels and the System Management Plan Workgroup are available HERE. For questions, please contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call 843/571-4366.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Council representatives from their area to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available HERE.
Applications must be received by Monday, May 1, 2023, for consideration by the Council during its June 12-16, 2023 meeting in St. Augustine, Florida.