Public Hearings / MPA Workshops / Informal Input
August 6-16, 2012
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public meetings in August to solicit input on management measures proposed for federally managed species under its jurisdiction. The meetings will include formal public hearings, informal public input and discussion sessions, and
MPA Workshops (NC and FL only).
Why should I attend?
Local Council representatives and staff members will be on hand throughout the afternoon and early evening on the meeting day to answer your questions and discuss concerns about topics listed on the front of this card. In addition, you will have an opportunity to go on record to provide formal comments for the Council to consider in future management decisions.
• Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3
(CE-BA 3): Includes measures to modify commercial and for-hire (charter/headboat) permits and reporting requirements to help ensure that Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) are not exceeded. Alternatives include the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for commercial vessels.
• Shrimp Amendment 9: Modifies the current protocol used by individual states to request concurrent closures of federal waters during severe cold weather events. This would expedite the closure process to help protect overwintering shrimp. The amendment would also revise the Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) proxy for pink shrimp.
• Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Seafood Dealer Amendment:
Addresses alternatives for: a “universal” federal dealer permit for both the South Atlantic and Gulf regions; dealer reporting requirements (frequency and methods); and requirements to maintain federal dealer permits.
• King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel and Cobia:
Council staff will be on hand to informally discuss management measures being proposed for both South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico groups of king and Spanish mackerel as well as cobia. Issues include: sale of bag limit king and Spanish mackerel; tournament sale of king mackerel; sale of cobia; elimination of latent effort in mackerel fisheries; changes to Spanish mackerel gill net fishery; state and/or regional quotas for Atlantic group king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia; and other measures.
• Marine Protected Area (MPA) Workshops:
The Council is seeking public input on the occurrence of speckled hind and warsaw grouper, including possible spawning areas and habitat for these two species. MPAs are being considered to help reduce bycatch mortality. (Note: Management actions concerning speckled hind and warsaw grouper were moved from CE-BA 3 to CE-BA 4 during the Council’s June 2012 meeting.)
Public Hearing Issues:
* MPA Workshops will be held in conjunction with public hearings scheduled for Florida and North Carolina. Workshops were previously held in South Carolina and Georgia earlier this year.
Mark your calendar
Issues: permits/reporting requirements for commercial and for-hire fishermen; federal dealer requirements; shrimp fishery changes; marine protected areas; and proposed changes for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia.
August 6, 2012
Richmond Hill City Center
520 Cedar Street
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
Phone: 912/445-0043
August 7, 2012 *
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
August 8, 2012 *
Doubletree Hotel
2080 North Atlantic Ave.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Phone: 321/783-9222
August 9, 2012 *
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 South Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/852-5553
August 14, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn Airport
5265 International Blvd.
N. Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: 843/308-9330
August 16, 2012 *
Hilton New Bern Riverfront
100 Middle Street
New Bern, NC 28560
Phone: 252/638-3585
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Additional meeting information, including copies of the public hearing documents are available through the Council office and posted at www.safmc.net.
See back for additional information.
Meetings will be held from
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Copies of public hearing documents will be available at
www.safmc.net
or by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or
toll free 866/SAFMC-10.
Can’t attend a meeting?
Written comments may be submitted to the Council until 5:00 PM on
August 20, 2012. Details on how to submit written comments are posted on the website and included in the public hearing documents.
Public Hearings / MPA Workshops / Informal Input
August 6-16, 2012
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public meetings in August to solicit input on management measures proposed for federally managed species under its jurisdiction. The meetings will include formal public hearings, informal public input and discussion sessions, and
MPA Workshops (NC and FL only).
Why should I attend?
Local Council representatives and staff members will be on hand throughout the afternoon and early evening on the meeting day to answer your questions and discuss concerns about topics listed on the front of this card. In addition, you will have an opportunity to go on record to provide formal comments for the Council to consider in future management decisions.
• Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3
(CE-BA 3): Includes measures to modify commercial and for-hire (charter/headboat) permits and reporting requirements to help ensure that Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) are not exceeded. Alternatives include the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for commercial vessels.
• Shrimp Amendment 9: Modifies the current protocol used by individual states to request concurrent closures of federal waters during severe cold weather events. This would expedite the closure process to help protect overwintering shrimp. The amendment would also revise the Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) proxy for pink shrimp.
• Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Seafood Dealer Amendment:
Addresses alternatives for: a “universal” federal dealer permit for both the South Atlantic and Gulf regions; dealer reporting requirements (frequency and methods); and requirements to maintain federal dealer permits.
• King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel and Cobia:
Council staff will be on hand to informally discuss management measures being proposed for both South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico groups of king and Spanish mackerel as well as cobia. Issues include: sale of bag limit king and Spanish mackerel; tournament sale of king mackerel; sale of cobia; elimination of latent effort in mackerel fisheries; changes to Spanish mackerel gill net fishery; state and/or regional quotas for Atlantic group king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia; and other measures.
• Marine Protected Area (MPA) Workshops:
The Council is seeking public input on the occurrence of speckled hind and warsaw grouper, including possible spawning areas and habitat for these two species. MPAs are being considered to help reduce bycatch mortality. (Note: Management actions concerning speckled hind and warsaw grouper were moved from CE-BA 3 to CE-BA 4 during the Council’s June 2012 meeting.)
Public Hearing Issues:
* MPA Workshops will be held in conjunction with public hearings scheduled for Florida and North Carolina. Workshops were previously held in South Carolina and Georgia earlier this year.
Mark your calendar
Issues: permits/reporting requirements for commercial and for-hire fishermen; federal dealer requirements; shrimp fishery changes; marine protected areas; and proposed changes for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and cobia.
August 6, 2012
Richmond Hill City Center
520 Cedar Street
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
Phone: 912/445-0043
August 7, 2012 *
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
August 8, 2012 *
Doubletree Hotel
2080 North Atlantic Ave.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Phone: 321/783-9222
August 9, 2012 *
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 South Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/852-5553
August 14, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn Airport
5265 International Blvd.
N. Charleston, SC 29418
Phone: 843/308-9330
August 16, 2012 *
Hilton New Bern Riverfront
100 Middle Street
New Bern, NC 28560
Phone: 252/638-3585
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Additional meeting information, including copies of the public hearing documents are available through the Council office and posted at www.safmc.net.
See back for additional information.
Meetings will be held from
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Copies of public hearing documents will be available at
or by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or
toll free 866/SAFMC-10.
Can’t attend a meeting?
Written comments may be submitted to the Council until 5:00 PM on
August 20, 2012. Details on how to submit written comments are posted on the website and included in the public hearing documents.