The South Atlantic Bite

Posted 16 hours ago

Newsworthy Notes – June 23rd, 2025

June Council Meeting Information Available

Committee reports, online comments, and meeting news release now available

If you are interested in topics discussed during the June 9-13 meeting of the South Atlantic Council but were unable to attend or listen via webinar, information is available from the Council’s website. There are reports from each committee meeting and meetings of the full Council. The reports include approved motions and a summary of discussions.

In addition, a news release is produced following each Council meeting, highlighting issues discussed during the week-long meeting. You can read online public comments along with materials presented or referenced during the meeting.

The South Atlantic Council generally meets four times each year, beginning with a meeting in Georgia the first full week of March, a meeting the second week of June in Florida, a meeting in South Carolina the second week of September, and a meeting in North Carolina the first full week of December.

Archived materials from previous Council meetings, as well as advisory panel and other public meetings are also available from the website at: https://safmc.net/briefing-books/.

Rocket Launches and Space X Operations Continue to Concern Fishermen

Department of Air Force seeks public comment on maritime management impacts

As both the number of rocket launches and the size of these launches increase off the Space Coast of Florida, so do concerns from fishermen about the ability to access area fisheries during launches and negative impacts to associated habitats. Designated “hazard areas” prevent fishermen, both commercial and recreational, from entering during rocket launches. Fishermen have expressed concerns for the past few years and noted them once again during the Council meeting in Cape Canaveral. The Council is aware of these concerns and has received presentations and provided comment letters in the past, including a recent letter to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation on SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations.

The Council’s Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel will meet July 15-17, 2025 in North Charleston, SC and receive a review of the issues surrounding space activities and impacts to fisheries. Meeting materials will be posted to the the Council’s website two weeks prior to the meeting.

Notice to Mariners and Public Comment

A Notice to Mariners was recently issued soliciting comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Draft EIS assesses the effects of up to 76 launches and 152 landings annually and includes analysis of maritime management impacts. The Notice recognizes impacts to maritime transit routes that include launch safety zones and potential landing areas. The Representative Closure Area extends northward to North Carolina.The Department of the Air Force will hold public hearings in early July. Additional details, including a list of dates and locations for the hearings and an online public comment form, are available at: https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/. Comments are due by July 28, 2025.

The Department of the Air Force will hold public hearings in early July. Additional details, including a list of dates and locations for the hearings and an online public comment form, are available at: https://spaceforcestarshipeis.com/. Comments are due by July 28, 2025.

For Fishermen, By Fishermen – Apply Now for to attend the 2025 Marine Resources Education Program Southeast Workshop

November 17-21, 2025 | Hyatt Place | St. Petersburg, FL

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Southeast provides fishermen and others with an interest in federal fisheries an opportunity to learn how the federal fishery science and management processes are applied in the South Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean regions. The program is based on workshops tailored specifically to the regions and brings together commercial, charter, and recreational fishermen with scientists, managers, and other marine resource professionals to learn the processes, share their insights, and network in a neutral and professional setting. If you are interested, apply now to attend the 2025 MREP Southeast Workshop!

Preference will be given to applications received by July 13th. Attending the workshop is free to all fishermen participants. MREP reimburses travel costs and pays for hotel lodging and meals during the week-long workshop.

For additional information, please contact:

Ira Laks, Commercial Fisherman, F/V Relaks (561) 719-8857

Dylan Hubbard, Charter Captain, Hubbard’s Marina, (727)420-9485

General questions? Contact Courtney Pickett, Program Manager, cpickett@gmri.org or (207) 228-1645 or visit mrep.gmri.org.

Additional Snippets:

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes to the Management of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic Region and the 2025 Fishing Seasons

NOAA Fisheries recently released Fishery Bulletin (FB25-019) announcing changes to the management of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic through a final rule for Secretarial Amendment 59 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The final rule modifies the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and proxy for determining Red Snapper overfishing.

NOAA Fisheries removed measures for a discard area closure and other measures in the amendment, citing public opposition, a stock assessment for South Atlantic Red Snapper currently underway, and the South Atlantic Red Snapper Research Program. The final rule announced the 2025 season for Red Snapper, with the recreational sector open for two days, July 11 and 12, 2025. The commercial sector will open July 14, 2025 and close when the commercial catch limit is met or projected to be met. See the Fishery Bulletin for complete details.

SECOORA Webinar: Collaborative Fisheries with a SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimates)

Tuesday, June 24 at 12 p.m. ET

Dr. Jennifer Loch from Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will discuss the SMILE project as part of SECOORA’s Coastal Observing in Your Community Webinar Series. The SMILE project is an initiative to incorporate fish length data into the Volunteer Fish Survey Project and supplement fisheries stock assessment data using camera technologies. Learn more and register today for the opportunity to learn over lunch! You can read more about the SMILE project from the Council’s Citizen Science webpage.

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!