Mackerel Advisory Panel Meeting via Conference Call Scheduled for November 3, 2005
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a meeting of its King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) via conference call on November 3, 2005 beginning at 1:00 p.m. to address:
1) Amendment 17 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerel) Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, and
2) the coastal migratory pelagics resources component of Generic Amendment 3 for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, and Spiny Lobster and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.
Under the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources FMP, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are jointly responsible the management of coastal migratory pelagic species.
Amendment 17 addresses the continuance of the charter/headboat permit moratorium for coastal migratory pelagic species currently in place in the Gulf of Mexico fishery. On May 6, 2003, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved Amendment 14 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP, establishing the charter vessel/headboat permit moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic fishery. Implemented on June 16, 2003, the intended effect of the amendment was to cap the number of for-hire vessels operating in the fishery at the levels that existed as of March 29, 2001 while the Councils evaluated whether a limited access program was needed to permanently constrain effort. The moratorium is set to expire June 16, 2006. In Amendment 17, the Councils are considering whether to let the moratorium expire, extend the moratorium for a finite time period (5 or 10 years), or establish an indefinite limited access program. The Gulf of Mexico Council has selected as its preferred alternative to establish an indefinite limited access program. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has not taken action.
Generic Amendment 3 contains proposed alternatives to define EFH for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources Fishery Management Plan.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will consider any recommendations developed by the King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel and take final action on Amendment 17 and Generic Amendment 3 at its December 5-9, 2005 meeting in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
Listening Stations
Listening stations will be available at the following locations: 1) South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; 2) The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; 3) NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; 4) NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 73 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149; and 5) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119, Marathon, FL 33050.
For additional information, please contact the Council office.
Mackerel Advisory Panel Meeting via Conference Call Scheduled for November 3, 2005
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will hold a meeting of its King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) via conference call on November 3, 2005 beginning at 1:00 p.m. to address:
1) Amendment 17 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (Mackerel) Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic, and
2) the coastal migratory pelagics resources component of Generic Amendment 3 for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, and Spiny Lobster and the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.
Under the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources FMP, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are jointly responsible the management of coastal migratory pelagic species.
Amendment 17 addresses the continuance of the charter/headboat permit moratorium for coastal migratory pelagic species currently in place in the Gulf of Mexico fishery. On May 6, 2003, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved Amendment 14 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP, establishing the charter vessel/headboat permit moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic fishery. Implemented on June 16, 2003, the intended effect of the amendment was to cap the number of for-hire vessels operating in the fishery at the levels that existed as of March 29, 2001 while the Councils evaluated whether a limited access program was needed to permanently constrain effort. The moratorium is set to expire June 16, 2006. In Amendment 17, the Councils are considering whether to let the moratorium expire, extend the moratorium for a finite time period (5 or 10 years), or establish an indefinite limited access program. The Gulf of Mexico Council has selected as its preferred alternative to establish an indefinite limited access program. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has not taken action.
Generic Amendment 3 contains proposed alternatives to define EFH for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources Fishery Management Plan.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will consider any recommendations developed by the King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel and take final action on Amendment 17 and Generic Amendment 3 at its December 5-9, 2005 meeting in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.
Listening Stations
Listening stations will be available at the following locations: 1) South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; 2) The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; 3) NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; 4) NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 73 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149; and 5) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119, Marathon, FL 33050.
For additional information, please contact the Council office.