The South Atlantic Bite

The South Atlantic Council is currently soliciting applicants for open seats on the Dolphin Wahoo, Habitat, Law Enforcement, Mackerel Cobia, Shrimp, and Snapper Grouper advisory panels. Current members may also be eligible for reappointment. Details are available in a recent SAFMC news release advertising AP seats as well as two open seats on the Council’s System Management Plan Workgroup.

Check out the updated advisory panel webpage to learn more and to access the online application. Share your knowledge and insight – and get involved!

Artificial reefs have been used in the South Atlantic region to provide habitat and increase fishing and diving opportunities. As part of the SAFMC Science Seminar Series, the Council will host a presentation from NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science in April. The presentation will highlight findings from multiple studies on artificial reefs, including the artificial and natural reef area in the South Atlantic region, ecological principles for siting artificial reefs, and analyses of relative fish abundance.

A question and answer session will follow. The webinar presentations are for informational purposes only and no management actions are taken. Learn more about the Council’s seminar series and register now to attend.

Beginning April 1, anglers fishing from a vessel targeting reef fish in Florida state waters will be required to have on board a descending device that is rigged and ready for use or a venting tool to help conserve reef fish. The new rule also requires the use of a descending device or venting tool if a fish is exhibiting signs of barotrauma prior to release.

A recent release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission notes the rule was approved to increase the survival of released reef fish, a top priority management issue in both the Gulf and South Atlantic. The requirements are supported by the American Sportfishing Association and the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida.

Best Fishing Practices and Federal Requirements

The likelihood of encountering fish suffering from barotrauma increases with water depth, and in most cases, the farther you run offshore. Requirements for descending devices to be onboard and ready for use for fishermen targeting snapper grouper species in federal waters (more than 3 miles off the South Atlantic coast) are also in place. Learn more about federal requirements and what the South Atlantic Council is doing to encourage best fishing practices to help ensure released fish survive to fight another day!

Hogfish are an economically valuable species found along the reefs in the South Atlantic, using their unusual mouths to sift through sand to find mollusks, crabs, and other animals. The Florida Wildlife Research Institute is taking a closer look at Hogfish to better understand Hogfish ecology and ensure sustainable management of this popular species.

The research includes the use of acoustic tags to learn about Hogfish behavior, including those that are caught on the hook and line and released. While Hogfish landings in Florida have historically been dominated by spear-fishers, the number of recreational anglers who target Hogfish using hook and line has recently increased. See how scientists are using the latest in acoustic telemetry to help better understand release mortality and other key factors important to the long-term management of Hogfish.

Photo: FWC/FWRI

If you or someone your know works with anglers in fisheries research or management, take note. The American Fisheries Society will host Citizen Science Focused Symposia as part of its 153rd annual meeting on August 20-24, 2023 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Organizers for the Symposia include the South Atlantic Council’s Citizen Science Program Manager, Julia Byrd. The first symposium focuses on angler engagement in fisheries research and management while the second addresses challenges and solutions for using citizen science data in fisheries management.

Anglers play an important role in providing scientists and managers with valuable data about the state of our fisheries. As new forms of electronic reporting come online, providing high-resolution data that could barely have been imagined just a few decades ago, anglers are becoming ever more important to fisheries research.

In addition, citizen science has generated interest among fisheries researchers and managers in recent years. The ability of volunteers to cover large areas and help collect information on economically and ecologically important fish stocks represents an intriguing option to fill much-needed data gaps.