South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting
March 7-11, 2011
Sea Palms Resort and Conference Center
5445 Frederica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Note: The final agenda and briefing book materials for this meeting are now available from the Council’s website at www.safmc.net. A post card announcement for the meeting is attached.
Agenda Highlights Include
Public Input:
Wednesday, March 9th – 5:30 PM – Informal Q&A Session: Led by NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Dr. Roy Crabtree and Council Chairman David Cupka
Thursday, March 10th – 10:45 AM – Public Comment: Formal public comment will be accepted on Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 9 and black sea bass bag limit changes followed by public comment regarding any other agenda items.
Committee Meeting Overview:
Snapper Grouper Committee
• Black Sea Bass - The Committee will review analysis for modifying the recreational bag limit in an effort to avoid future closures of the recreational fishery.
• Regulatory Amendment 9: Commercial Trip Limits - The Committee will review comments received during the public hearing/open comment period, modify the amendment as appropriate and consider recommending approval of the amendment.
• Comprehensive ACL Amendment - The amendment includes measures to establish Annual Catch Limits (in pounds or #s of fish) and Accountability Measures for species not listed as undergoing overfishing as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act by the end of 2011. Species addressed in the amendment include snapper grouper, dolphin, wahoo, and golden crab. The Committee will review public comments and consider recommending initial approval to the Council.
Mackerel Committee
• Amendment 18 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP - The Committee will review recommendations from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council regarding Amendment 18 (being developed jointly with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council) outlining Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. The Committee is scheduled to recommend the Council approve the amendment for public hearings to be held in April 2011.
Spiny Lobster Committee
• Amendment 10 to the Spiny Lobster FMP - The Committee will review recommendations from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council regarding Amendment 10 (being developed jointly with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council) outlining Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for spiny lobster. The Committee is scheduled to recommend the Council approve the amendment for public hearings to be held in April 2011.
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee
• Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment (CE-BA) 2 - The Committee will review public comments and consider recommending initial approval of the amendment. CE-BA 2 covers a broad range of issues across multiple fishery management plans, including the management and harvest of octocorals, alternatives to restrict harvest of species to the recreational bag limit for Special Management Zones (SMZs) off the coast of South Carolina, and modification to existing regulations for sea turtle release gear requirements in the commercial snapper grouper fishery.
Kim Iverson
Public Information Officer
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201
North Charleston, SC 29405
843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10
www.safmc.net
