SAFMC Meets in NC This Week
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) meets this week in Kitty Hawk, NC. At this meeting, the Council is scheduled to take final action on management changes for Black Sea Bass and finalize catch levels for Blueline Tilefish.
They will also discuss potential state management of recreational Red Snapper harvest through Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications. In addition, the agenda also includes presentations on upcoming Fishing Effort Survey (FES) changes within MRIP, updates to the SERO permitting system, and progress on One-Stop Reporting.
A hybrid public comment will be held Wednesday, December 10th at 4:00 pm. You can either comment in person or online. If you are planning to comment remotely you are asked to sign up using the link below. Written comment will also be accepted through an online public comment form.
Meeting Location:
Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk
5353 N. Virginia Dare Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
When: December 8th-12th
A Few Agenda Items of Interest
Monday, Dec. 8th – 10:45-12:00 noon
-Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-Committee
Commercial Management Measures (Amendment 60)
Tuesday, Dec. 9th – 1:30-5:00 pm
–Update on Management Program Review Project
–Marine Recreational Information Program FES Revisions Presentation
–Presentation on SERO Permitting System
–Presentation on One-Stop Reporting Progress
Wednesday, Dec. 10th – 8:30-12:00 noon
-Amendment 60 (Commercial Permit and Trip Efficiency) Discussion
-State Management of Red Snapper NC Red Snapper EFP Application
1:30-3:45 pm
–Black Sea Bass Regulatory Amendment 37 Decision Document
-CONSIDER FOR FINAL APPROVAL
-Blueline Tilefish Catch Levels (materials available at the meeting)
-CONSIDER FOR FINAL APPROVAL
4:00 pm PUBLIC COMMENT
Thursday, Dec. 11th – 8:30-12:00 noon
–Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit Revision (Amendment 61)
1:30-5:00 pm
–Innovative Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery
Friday, Dec. 12th – 8:30-12:00 noon
-Committee Reports and SAMFC Workplan
-Adjourn
Personal Items of Interest
Two of my primary concerns going into this meeting are state management of red snapper through Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) and yet another recalibration of recreational effort estimates within the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).
The Marine Recreational Information Program has long been a source of concern for managers, scientists, and fishermen across both sectors. The latest issue involves the Fishing Effort Survey (FES), which appears to have significantly overestimated recreational effort—and therefore harvest. As a result, recreational harvest and discard estimates will be revised once again.
This will be the fourth major change to recreational data in just over a decade. And these revisions do not simply apply going forward—each time, the entire time series back to 1981 is erased and rewritten. How can we manage fisheries effectively, much less fairly, when the sector responsible for the majority of removals is managed using a data system that is rebuilt every 3–4 years?
The pilot testing of state management of recreational red snapper harvest through EFPs raises even greater concerns. The SAFMC listed state recreational management of red snapper as a high priority under Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” But reallocating quota and piloting an entirely new management framework outside the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) process is the exact opposite of the intent of this executive order—and it is a clear violation of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Another major red flag is that none of the four EFP applications include the required information laid out in federal code. They do not provide projected harvest, anticipated total mortality, discard modeling, quota-impact analysis, or expected effects on other fisheries.
EFPs are intended to allow limited, controlled testing within the bounds of MSA and the FMP. They are not a mechanism for trial-running a new management regime that advantages one sector at the expense of another.
Before moving forward, these concerns must be addressed openly and transparently to ensure that management remains lawful, equitable, and grounded in sound science.
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please reach out.
Thomas Newman
Fisheries Liaison