Public Hearings Scheduled for Black Sea Bass, Red Grouper and Wreckfish Fisheries
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of seven public hearings beginning
November 14, 2011 to solicit public input on management measures impacting federal fisheries for black sea bass,
red grouper, and wreckfish. Amendments are being developed to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
in order to: address overcapacity in the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce the rate of harvest for
both commercial and recreational sectors; end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock; and address the
current Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish.
Black Sea Bass Restrictions: Amendment 18A
Annual Catch Limits (in numbers of pounds) have been established by the Council for black sea bass as
mandated in the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act to end overfishing and help rebuild the
stock. Increased restrictions on the harvest of other species in the snapper grouper complex have led to an
increase in fishing effort for black sea bass. As a result, the catch limits have been reached earlier by both
commercial and recreational fishermen, resulting in closures. The 2011/2012 fishing year for black sea bass began
June 1, 2011. The commercial fishery met its ACL in just 45 days and the fishery was closed. After NOAA
Fisheries Service accounted for overages in landings by the recreational sector during the 2010/2011 season, it
was announced the recreational fishery had met its adjusted ACL of 341,747 pounds for this fishing year. The
recreational black sea bass fishery closed on October 17, 2011 and reopens June 1, 2012. Amendment 18A is
being developed to limit the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce harvest rates for both commercial
and recreational sectors. A new stock assessment for black sea bass is currently underway and the Council will
receive the results of the assessment during its December 5-9, 2011 meeting in Raleigh, NC.
Measures Included in Amendment 18A:
· For the commercial black sea bass pot fishery: limit participation through an endorsement program, limit
the number of pots used during a permit year, and other measures to limit harvest and reduce bycatch
· Establish commercial trip limits (all gear types)
· Increase size limits (commercial and recreational)
· Establish a spawning season closure (for both commercial and recreational sectors)
· Modify the current rebuilding strategy to allow for an increase in the Annual Catch Limit as the stock
continues to rebuild, based on the results of the most recent stock assessment.
· Improve commercial and for-hire data reporting requirements
Ending Overfishing and Rebuilding Red Grouper: Amendment 24
A stock assessment conducted in 2010 identified the red grouper stock in the South Atlantic region as
overfished and undergoing overfishing. Amendment 24 will set Annual Catch Limits and Accountability
Measures, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise certain population parameters for red grouper to end overfishing
and rebuild the stock. The amendment also establishes allocations between recreational and commercial sectors.
Wreckfish ITQs: Amendment 20A
Wreckfish, a deepwater species in the snapper grouper management complex, is currently harvested through an
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program. With an anticipated reduction in the Annual Catch Limit for
wreckfish, the Council is considering measures to adjust the distribution of wreckfish shares in order to remove
inactive effort and allow the commercial sector’s ACL to be harvested effectively.
(Public hearing dates and locations on back)
(Continued)
Public hearings for the amendments will take place from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Note:
some hearings will be held on concurrent dates. Council staff will provide an overview of each amendment and be on
hand to answer questions. Local Council representatives will take formal comments on the public hearing documents
any time between those hours. The Council is accepting written and email comments from October 21, 2011 until
5:00 p.m. on November 21, 2011. Copies of the public hearing documents with details on how to submit written
comments will be posted on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net and available by contacting the Council office
at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.
Public Hearing Schedule
Monday, November 14
Avista Resort
300 N. Ocean Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Phone: 843/249-2521
Monday, November 14
Hampton Inn Savannah/Midtown
20 Johnston Street
Savannah, GA 31405
Phone: 912/721-3700
Tuesday, November 15
(5:30 – 7:30 PM)
Charleston Marriott Hotel
170 Lockwood Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: 843/723-3000
Tuesday, November 15
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
Wednesday, November 16
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Blvd.
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Phone: 321/784-0000
Thursday, November 17
Key Largo Bay Marriott
103800 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/453-0000
*Tuesday, December 6
Holiday Inn Brownstone
1707 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
Phone: 919/828-0811
*Hearing in conjunction with the December 5-9
Council meeting and begins at 5:30 PM
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish
stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.
Cheryl Gilgo
Public Affairs Assistant
252-808-8137
Public Hearings Scheduled for Black Sea Bass, Red Grouper and Wreckfish Fisheries
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of seven public hearings beginning
November 14, 2011 to solicit public input on management measures impacting federal fisheries for black sea bass,
red grouper, and wreckfish. Amendments are being developed to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
in order to: address overcapacity in the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce the rate of harvest for
both commercial and recreational sectors; end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock; and address the
current Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish.
Black Sea Bass Restrictions: Amendment 18A
Annual Catch Limits (in numbers of pounds) have been established by the Council for black sea bass as
mandated in the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act to end overfishing and help rebuild the
stock. Increased restrictions on the harvest of other species in the snapper grouper complex have led to an
increase in fishing effort for black sea bass. As a result, the catch limits have been reached earlier by both
commercial and recreational fishermen, resulting in closures. The 2011/2012 fishing year for black sea bass began
June 1, 2011. The commercial fishery met its ACL in just 45 days and the fishery was closed. After NOAA
Fisheries Service accounted for overages in landings by the recreational sector during the 2010/2011 season, it
was announced the recreational fishery had met its adjusted ACL of 341,747 pounds for this fishing year. The
recreational black sea bass fishery closed on October 17, 2011 and reopens June 1, 2012. Amendment 18A is
being developed to limit the commercial black sea bass pot fishery and reduce harvest rates for both commercial
and recreational sectors. A new stock assessment for black sea bass is currently underway and the Council will
receive the results of the assessment during its December 5-9, 2011 meeting in Raleigh, NC.
Measures Included in Amendment 18A:
· For the commercial black sea bass pot fishery: limit participation through an endorsement program, limit
the number of pots used during a permit year, and other measures to limit harvest and reduce bycatch
· Establish commercial trip limits (all gear types)
· Increase size limits (commercial and recreational)
· Establish a spawning season closure (for both commercial and recreational sectors)
· Modify the current rebuilding strategy to allow for an increase in the Annual Catch Limit as the stock
continues to rebuild, based on the results of the most recent stock assessment.
· Improve commercial and for-hire data reporting requirements
Ending Overfishing and Rebuilding Red Grouper: Amendment 24
A stock assessment conducted in 2010 identified the red grouper stock in the South Atlantic region as
overfished and undergoing overfishing. Amendment 24 will set Annual Catch Limits and Accountability
Measures, establish a rebuilding plan, and revise certain population parameters for red grouper to end overfishing
and rebuild the stock. The amendment also establishes allocations between recreational and commercial sectors.
Wreckfish ITQs: Amendment 20A
Wreckfish, a deepwater species in the snapper grouper management complex, is currently harvested through an
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program. With an anticipated reduction in the Annual Catch Limit for
wreckfish, the Council is considering measures to adjust the distribution of wreckfish shares in order to remove
inactive effort and allow the commercial sector’s ACL to be harvested effectively.
(Public hearing dates and locations on back)
(Continued)
Public hearings for the amendments will take place from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Note:
some hearings will be held on concurrent dates. Council staff will provide an overview of each amendment and be on
hand to answer questions. Local Council representatives will take formal comments on the public hearing documents
any time between those hours. The Council is accepting written and email comments from October 21, 2011 until
5:00 p.m. on November 21, 2011. Copies of the public hearing documents with details on how to submit written
comments will be posted on the Council’s web site at www.safmc.net and available by contacting the Council office
at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.
Public Hearing Schedule
Monday, November 14
Avista Resort
300 N. Ocean Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Phone: 843/249-2521
Monday, November 14
Hampton Inn Savannah/Midtown
20 Johnston Street
Savannah, GA 31405
Phone: 912/721-3700
Tuesday, November 15
(5:30 – 7:30 PM)
Charleston Marriott Hotel
170 Lockwood Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: 843/723-3000
Tuesday, November 15
Jacksonville Marriott
4670 Salisbury Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Phone: 904/296-2222
Wednesday, November 16
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Blvd.
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
Phone: 321/784-0000
Thursday, November 17
Key Largo Bay Marriott
103800 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305/453-0000
*Tuesday, December 6
Holiday Inn Brownstone
1707 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
Phone: 919/828-0811
*Hearing in conjunction with the December 5-9
Council meeting and begins at 5:30 PM
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish
stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.
Cheryl Gilgo
Public Affairs Assistant
252-808-8137