The South Atlantic Bite
Newsworthy Notes April 9th, 2026
Upcoming Meetings in a Busy April
A full slate of meetings is scheduled for April, offering multiple opportunities for fishermen to tune in and provide input.
Next week, the Social and Economic Panel (SEP) is meeting on April 13-14 in Charleston, SC, followed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting on April 14-16. The SEP plans to discuss economic analyses of snapper grouper management strategy evaluation and NMFS’s proposed approach to narrowing the scope of management and science (NMFS risk value matrix). The SSC will address SEDAR activities, NMFS risk value matrix, wreckfish stock assessment model, and the South Atlantic Red Snapper Research Program, among other items.
Later in the month, the Council’s Snapper Grouper Sub-Committee will meet April 20-21, directly followed by the Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) on April 21-23. The Sub-Committee will discuss actions under consideration in Amendment 60, commercial permits (removing the 2-for-1 provision), and trip efficiency. The Advisory Panel will discuss golden tilefish seasons, black sea bass management, fishery management unit revisions, and more.
All meetings are open to the public, with webinar options available. Agendas, materials, and public comment opportunities are found on the Council’s website.
Advisory Group Membership Opportunities
The Council is now accepting applications for multiple Advisory Panels, SSC, and SEP. These groups play a critical role in shaping federal fisheries management by providing scientific, technical, and fishermen-driven input to the Council.
Available seats for Advisory Panels are as follows:
Applications are all due May 8, 2026, and application details can be found on the Council’s website.
SAFMC Seminar Series: “Salty Since 1972”
Tuesday’s Seminar Series featured “Salty Since 1972: Coastal and Offshore Fishery-Independent Surveys at SCDNR,” highlighting over 50 years of fisheries monitoring efforts by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The presentation traced the origins of offshore research beginning with the MARMAP program in 1972 and showcased how long-term, fishery-independent surveys provide critical data for better management and science. The video recording of the presentation is available here.
Updates from SeaGrant
Ryan McMullen, Sea Grant’s South Atlantic Reef Fish Extension and Communication Fellow, is working hard to strengthen communication between fishermen, scientists, and managers. As part of this effort, Sea Grant has been hosting a reef fish webinar series for fishermen, covering topics such as depredation, climate vulnerability, and population connectivity, and how they relate to what fishermen see on the water. The final webinar will take place Monday, April 13th at 6pm, with time for audience Q&A.
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!