The South Atlantic Bite
Newsworthy Notes – December 20th, 2024
Catching Up at the End of the Year? Meeting Materials are Only a Few Clicks Away
As we head into the holidays and begin to reflect on the past year, it can seem a bit overwhelming to keep up with all of the issues addressed in federal fisheries management. The SA Bite newsletter, news releases, and announcements provide summaries, but meeting details are also always available online.
Meeting materials are archived on the Council’s website. This includes the quarterly meetings of the Council as well as advisory panel, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Social and Economic Committees, and work groups. Meeting agendas, presentations, discussion documents, and public comments submitted online for each meeting are posted and available to the public.
Note that meetings are open to the public and have dedicated public comment sessions.
Council Meetings
The Council meets four times each year, once in each of the southeastern states: March in Georgia; June in Florida; September in South Carolina; and December in North Carolina. These meetings are scheduled over a year in advance and occur over fixed weeks each year. The 2025 Council Meeting Schedule is now available. Archived materials are available from the same page.
Advisory Panel Meetings
The Council’s advisory panels meet periodically to provide grass-roots recommendations on various fisheries management issues. Meetings are generally held in the spring and fall each year. Advisory panels meet on an as needed basis to address issues and meetings may be held in-person or via webinar. Similar to Council meetings, materials are posted on the Council’s website prior to each meeting and archived. Planning is underway now for the 2025 advisory panel schedule. Check the Advisory Panel page for details and archives. Interested in joining an AP? Learn more and apply now!
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Meetings
The Council’s SSC and Social & Economic Panel assists the Council in the development, collection, and peer review of information relevant to fishery management plans and amendments. The SSC generally meets twice each year with meetings open to the public. Meeting archives and general information is available from the SSC Meeting page.
Other Meetings
Looking at your 2025 calendar? Check out the Council’s online calendar for additional meeting information. There you will also find links to upcoming Mackerel Port Meetings, Best Fishing Practices Master Volunteer Program workshops, and any additional events scheduled throughout the year.
Happy Holidays!
Mackerel Port Meeting Series Continues in 2025 via Webinar
Report from the initial Sub-Committee meeting will be provided during the December 2024 Council meeting
The Council hosted a series of in-person port meetings along the Atlantic coast throughout 2024 with assistance from state and regional partners. Over 250 fishermen and others attended the port meetings, designed to take a focused look at the Atlantic King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel fisheries. The meetings were held at the request of the Council’s Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel.
For those unable to attend the in-person meetings, a webinar version of the Mackerel Port meeting is being hosted by the Council in January. Interested in the King Mackerel or Spanish Mackerel fisheries? Want to share your experience and vision for the future of these fisheries? Mark your calendar now and register now to attend one of the webinars below.
Mackerel Port Meetings via Webinar (All meetings begin at 6 p.m.)
- Tuesday, January 21
- Thursday, January 23
- Wednesday, January 29
Additional information about these meetings, including goals and objectives is available from the King and Spanish Mackerel Port Meeting website.
Navigating the Waters: How Fishery Management Agencies Shape the Future of Georgia’s Coast
“If you’ve ever enjoyed a fishing trip off Georgia’s coast or indulged in a seafood feast of shrimp and fish, you’ve experienced the direct benefits of thoughtful fishery management. Behind every regulation, from size limits to seasonal closures, are agencies working tirelessly to keep fish stocks healthy while ensuring fishing opportunities remain available.”
So begins this excellent feature article in the December issue of Coastlines, a publication of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division. The article highlights the state and regional fisheries management agencies involved in marine resources, including the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and compares and contrasts the agencies and their role. Click the link and take a deeper look!
Additional Snippets:
The NOAA Fisheries Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program (SEFHIER) End of Year Update
NOAA Fisheries recently released a Fishery Bulletin featuring and end of the year report on the SEFHIER Program. The program implements electronic reporting for for-hire vessel catch data for nearly 2,000 vessels in the South Atlantic. The end of the year report provides key program updates, reminders, updates from both the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s regarding SEFHIER, compliance summaries, and helpful program information.
Watch for Right Whales – It’s more difficult than you think
Winter time is calving season for endangered North Atlantic right whales here in the Southeast, when pregnant females migrate from New England and Canadian waters to give birth. These whales, and their calves may come close to shore, and although mama may be larger than a school bus, they are often difficult to spot. Test your skills in this blog from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Where’s the Whale?. The waters off the Carolinas, Georgia and north Florida are the species only known calving grounds.
Mark Your Calendar
Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the Meetings page of the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available. Register early and receive email reminders as the meeting date(s) approach!
January 29, 2025
For-Hire Reporting AP Meeting
Via webinar
February 5, 2025
Law Enforcement AP Meeting
Via webinar