The South Atlantic Bite

The June Council meeting marked the final meeting for Florida Council member Robert Spottswood Jr. and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaison Earl “Sonny” Gwin. Both have provided years of dedicated service and valuable perspectives. The Council extends its sincere appreciation for their contributions and wishes them both the very best in their future endeavors.

The Council is pleased to recognize NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent Kevin Mitchell as the 2025 South Atlantic Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Mitchell was selected among three nominations to be honored for his outstanding contributions to fisheries enforcement, including leading a successful fisheries fraud investigation that resulted in multiple felony convictions, advancing North Atlantic right whale protection efforts, and fostering strong partnerships with state and federal agencies. His professionalism, innovation, and dedication to both enforcement and public outreach exemplify the highest standards of fisheries conservation. Special Agent Mitchell will receive the award during the September 2026 meeting in North Charleston, SC.

Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel Meeting Next Week

The Council’s Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel will meet next week (June 30th-July 1st) to discuss life stage information updates, resilient fisheries initiative, space industry activity impacts, and a review of offshore development among other items. Register for the webinar and review the agenda here.

NOAA Fisheries Launches RAPID

NOAA Fisheries has announced the rollout of the Recreational Activity and Participation Integrated Database (RAPID), a new initiative designed to modernize recreational fisheries data collection and improve access to recreational fishing information. By integrating multiple data sources into a single platform, RAPID aims to provide more timely, consistent, and accessible recreational fishing data for fishermen, managers, and researchers.