Public Comment

The South Atlantic Council strives to create an open and transparent process and welcomes public comment and participation. Multiple opportunities are available for public comment on specific FMP amendments along with any other business that comes before the Council. All of the FMP amendment and meeting pages on this site provide access to the various comment opportunities for the activity.

All comments submitted to the Council become part of the official administrative record of the Council’s activities and are publicly accessible.

Fishery Management Plan Amendments

The Council accepts public comment on FMP amendments in multiple ways throughout their development. Comments may be submitted verbally or in writing as part of scheduled Public Scoping and Public Hearing sessions. These are formal events with specific commenting timelines specified for each individual amendment. Comment is also accepted through online forms at any time while an amendment is under development. Comment forms, along with information on amendment status and actions being considered, can be accessed on the amendment page. Finally, Council accepts comments, at each of its meetings, on any topics on the agenda as described below.  

There are additional opportunities for comment once the Council submits an amendment to NOAA fisheries for consideration. NMFS will develop and take comment on proposed rules developed in response to an FMP amendment.

Council Meetings

All Council and Advisory Panel meetings are open to the public. Public comment may be submitted in writing prior to a meeting or verbally at specified times during the meeting. Commenting information, forms, and deadlines are provided on the meeting information page for each Council meeting. For most meetings, written comments submitted by mail or email must be received one week before the meeting to be considered at the meeting. After that date, comments must be submitted through the online forms. Online commenting forms for Council meetings typically open when meeting materials are posted 2 weeks prior to the meeting and close when the meeting ends.

Amendments available for comment

• CMP Framework Amendment 13

  Responds to the latest stock assessment (SEDAR 78) for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel. Updates catch levels based on the SSC recommendations.

  Scoping
• Comprehensive Commercial Electronic Logbook Amendment

  Included in the Joint Commercial Electronic Logbook Reporting Amendment. Modifies reporting requirements for commercial logbooks in the snapper grouper, coastal migratory pelagics (mackerel and cobia) , and dolphin wahoo fisheries.

  Secretarial review
• Comprehensive Recreational For-Hire Limited Entry Amendment

  Included in the Comprehensive Recreational For-Hire Limited Entry Amendment. Establishes limited entry for the for-hire components of the snapper grouper, coastal migratory pelagics, and dolphin wahoo fisheries.

  Pre-scoping
• Comprehensive SEFHIER Improvement Amendment

  Also included in the Comprehensive SEFHIER Improvement Amendment. Improves compliance with SEFHIER reporting requirements.

  Pre-scoping
• Coral Amendment 10

  Establishes a Shrimp Fishery Access Area along the eastern boundary of the northern extension of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern.

  Final approval
• Dolphin Wahoo Regulatory Amendment 3

  Includes actions that would increase the applicable geographic range of the 20” FL minimum size limit for dolphin, modify bag and vessel limits for dolphin, and reduce or remove captain and crew bag limits of dolphin.

  Public hearing
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 44

  Adjusts yellowtail snapper catch levels.

  Public hearing
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 46

  Addresses private recreational reporting and permitting.

  Public hearing
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 48

  Modernizes the wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota program.

  Secretarial review
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 55

  Respond to the latest stock assessment (SEDAR 68) for scamp and yellowmouth grouper.

  Final approval
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 56

  Respond to most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 76) for black sea bass. 

  Pre-scoping
• Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 35

  Addresses release mortality issues in the snapper grouper fishery and modifications to red snapper catch levels.

  Final approval
• Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 36

  Consider revisions to the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper and stowage requirements for black sea bass pots equipped with on-demand gear while transiting closed areas.

  Final approval