May 7 in Key Largo and May 9 at Port Canaveral, recreational fishermen will have a chance to speak with South Atlantic Fishery Management Council members about regulated reef-fish species such as red and vermilion snappers, and gag grouper.

Key measures to be discussed include the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and the Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment. The SAFMC describes the Fishery Ecosystem Plan as an “ecosystem-based approach to fishery management.” The Plan will act as a “source document” for subsequent comprehensive amendments that address issues across existing fishery management plans.

The Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment would protect large areas of deepwater coral habitat called Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) in the South Atlantic region, says the SAFMC.

Amendments 16 and 18 of the Fishery Management Plan also need public input. Amendment 16 is in its development stages, and looks to curtail overfishing of such species as gag grouper and vermilion snapper. Some of Amendment 16’s alternatives under consideration include a January to April gag grouper spawning season closure for both the commercial and recreational sectors, dividing the commercial quota for gag grouper between two regions, establishing a directed commercial quota for vermilion snapper, adjusting the recreational bag and size limits, and a recreational seasonal closure for vermilion snapper.

If the abovementioned January through April closure for gag grouper passes, other prohibited species grouped with the closure would include black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, tiger grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby and coney.

Amendment 18 is open for public discussion to address overfishing of red snapper (according to SAFMC recent stock assessments), says the Council.

It’s vital for recreational fishermen to attend these meetings. Anglers must be part of the process, particularly when more closures on popular bottomfish are being considered. The hearings allow the public to view presentations, hold informal discussions with Council staff, and provide comment to the area Council representative in attendance at each meeting between 3 until 7 p.m.

Meeting Sites:
May 7, 2008: Key Largo Grande, 97000 S. Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida 33070, 866-597-5397
May 9, 2008: Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920, 321-784-0000
May 12, 2008: Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, Georgia 31322, 912-748-8888
May 13, 2008: Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Carolina 29407, 843-571-1000