South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Council Meeting And Conference

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is hosting a Council Meeting and Conference in Charleston, United States. SAFMC is dedicated to conserving and managing the fisheries of the southeastern United States, particularly within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida down to Key West.

The Council is composed of 17 members, which include 13 voting members and four non-voting members. The voting members consist of representatives from the four southeastern states, with two citizens from each state, while the non-voting members include representatives from key agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard, State Department, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Currently, the SAFMC manages eight distinct fisheries, which are crucial to the region's ecosystem and economy. These fisheries encompass coastal migratory pelagics, coral and live bottom habitat, dolphin and wahoo, golden crab, shrimp, snapper grouper, spiny lobster, and Sargassum. Notably, the snapper grouper fishery is the only one among these that is considered overfished, but significant regulatory measures are in place to ensure its recovery.

Both recreational and commercial snapper grouper fisheries are under strict management, leading to ongoing progress as more species are removed from the overfished list annually. The other six fisheries are expected to thrive sustainably into the future, supporting both biodiversity and local economies.