August 02, 2018
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Join a South Atlantic Council Advisory Panel
Knowledgeable, passionate anglers: Here's a great chance to get involved in the fishery management process. The federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is accepting applications for several Advisory Panels. These AP groups meet once or twice a year. Members are compensated for travel. The mission is to provide important background advice on things like: what you (and others like you) are seeing on the water, what kinds of management measures would best suit people like you—insights like that. Basically all the stuff you talk about with your buddies. Think you'd like to see red snapper handled differently? Have long years of experience, and strong feelings for, coral reefs or seagrass?
Here are some AP seats open to Florida recreational fishing enthusiasts:
Coral Advisory Panel
• (3) Open Seats
Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
• (1) FL Recreational
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel
• (2) Recreational Seats
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
• (3) Open Seats
Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
• (2) Florida Open Seats
Also: The South Atlantic Council is looking for a knowledgeable, enthusiastic recreational angler from Florida to help with its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup. The newly formed workgroup will provide recommendations on managed areas in federal waters under the Council's jurisdiction.
Basically, help with insights and recommendations into management and research priorities for places like Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, Spawning Special Management Zones and the Oculina Experimental Closed Area. The Council is looking to add more areas and come up with a single System Management Plan in place for all managed areas. The SMP Workgroup will meet two times per year. Travel and per diem expenses will be covered if in-person meetings are held.
Don't wait, apply today! Applications are accepted until August 22, 2018.
Application forms for individual advisory panels and the SMP Workgroup are available online from the Council's website at: http://safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/.
Got questions about the advisory panel seats? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call the Council office at 843/571-4366. Questions regarding the SMP Workgroup should be directed to Dr. Chip Collier at chip.collier@safmc.net or by calling the Council office.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available from the “About Us” section of the Council's website at www.safmc.net or through the Council office. Advisory panel and workgroup members will be selected during the Council's September 17-21, 2018 meeting in Charleston, SC.
