Scoping Meetings and Public Hearings for: Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3); Shrimp; Spiny Lobster; Golden Crab; and Golden Tilefish
Note: The Council is accepting writtten comments on the documents listed belowuntil 5:00 PM on February 15, 2012.
4:00 - 7:00 pm
January 24, 2012
Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport
4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd.
N. Charleston, SC 29418
843/744-4422
January 26, 2012
BridgePointe Hotel & Marina
101 Howell Rd.
New Bern, NC 28562
252/636-3637
January 30, 2012
Hilton Key Largo Resort
97000 Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, FL 33037
305/852-5553
January 31, 2012 (Note: this is a location change from information published in the FRN)
Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront
1550 North Atlantic Ave.
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
321/799-0003
February 1, 2012
Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront
1201 Riverplace Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
904/398-8800
February 2, 2012
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
175 Bourne Ave.
Pooler, GA 31322
912/748-8888
Meeting Postcard Announcement (PDF) (Revised: posted 1/19/12))
Written comments will be received until February 15, 2012. See Comments section below for additional information.
Amendments for Scoping:
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3):
CE-BA 3 explores options for: restricting the use of powerhead gear by divers off the coast of North Carolina and throughout federal waters in the South Atlantic; the expansion of deepwater coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC); the establishment of mid-shelf Marine Protected Areas (MPA) to help protect speckled hind and warsaw grouper; the designation of a new MPA in the Florida Keys; the establishment of a recreational tag program for deepwater species; the increase in the minimum size limit for hogfish; changes in the bag and size limits for gray triggerfish; and modifications to commercial and for-hire permits and reporting requirements to ensure that Annual Catch Limits (ACL) are not exceeded.
Comments may be directed to: CEBA3ScopingComment@safmc.net
CE-BA 3 Scoping Document (Revised: posted 1/19/12)
Shrimp Amendment 9:
Shrimp Amendment 9 would modify the current protocol used by individual states to request concurrent closures of federal waters during severe cold weather. This would expedite the closure process and help protect over-wintering shrimp populations. The amendment would also revise the Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) proxy for pink shrimp.
Comments may be directed to: ShrimpAmend9ScopingComment@safmc.net
Shrimp Amendment 9 Scoping Document
Amendments for Public Hearing:
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11:
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11 for the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico implements conservation measures to help protect threatened and endangered species in a manner that complies with the measures established in the 2009 biological opinion on the spiny lobster fishery. Actions include: measures to create new area closures for the commercial lobster trap fishery in federal waters off the coast of Florida to help protect staghorn and elkhorn coral from gear impacts; and alternatives for commercial trap line marking requirements.
Comments may be directed to: SpLobAmend11PHComment@safmc.net
Spiny Lobster Draft Amendment 11 (appendices included)
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11 Public Hearing Summary
Enmienda 11 de Langosta Espinosa: Guia de Vista Publica (Public Hearing Summary in Spanish)
Golden Crab Amendment 6:
Golden Crab Amendment 6 includes alternatives to establishing a catch share program for the commercial golden crab fishery in the South Atlantic.
Comments may be directed to: GCrabAmend6PHComment@safmc.net
Golden Crab Amendment 6 (Revised: posted 1/19/12)
Appendix A: Considered but Rejected Actions and Alternatives
Golden Crab Amendment 6 Public Hearing Summary
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B:
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B would: limit participation in the commercial golden tilefish fishery through the establishment of endorsements for the longline and hook-and-line sectors; consider changes to the fishing year; set allocations between gear groups; modify/establish trip limits; and set modifications for the ACL.
Comments may be directed to: SGAmend18BPHComment@safmc.net
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B (golden tilefish)
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B (golden tilefish) Public Hearing Summary (Revised - posted 2/8/12)
Comments
Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405 or via email to:
CEBA3ScopingComment@safmc.net for Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3
ShrimpAmend9ScopingComment@safmc.net for Amendment 9 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
SpLobAmend11PHComment@safmc.net for Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster FMP
GCrabAmend6PHComment@safmc.net for Amendment 6 to the Golden Crab FMP
SGAmend18BPHComment@safmc.net for Amendment 18B to the Snapper Grouper FMP
Written comments will be received from January 13, 2012 until 5:00 pm on February 15, 2012.