Overview: Fishery Management Council Process MREP Management Workshop Tampa, Florida September 30, 2014 Ben Hartig, Chairman South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Road Map for Presentation: Council membership makeup/ rationale Fishery Management Plans How are they developed? Advisory Panels, SSC and Council Committees Public Involvement Scoping & Public Hearings Amendment implementation Submission to Secretary, review and approval/ denial/partial approval
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Perspective SAFMC is one of 8 regional Councils in U.S. Established in 1976 by the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act Role is to Conserve and Manage through development of fishery management plans and amendments
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200 nautical mile limit off the coasts of : North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida to Key West.
SAFMC STAFF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Executive Director (Mahood) Public Information Officer (Iverson) Fishery Outreach Specialist (Von Harten) Deputy Executive Director (Waugh) Administrative Officer (Collins)
Deputy Executive Director (Waugh) Science & Statistics Program Manager (Carmichael) Fisheries Biologist (Errigo) SEDAR Program SEDAR Coordinator (Neer) Fishery Management Program Senior Fisheries Scientist (Pugliese) Fisheries Economist (Cheuvront) Fisheries Cultural Anthropologist (MacLauchlin) SEDAR Coordinator (Byrd) Fisheries Scientist (Brouwer) Fisheries/Coral Scientist (Collier)
Administrative Officer (Collins) Financial Secretary (Buscher) Administrative Secretary (Chaya) Admin Assistant for Grants, Procurement & SEDAR (O Dell)
Who is the Council? Recreational and commercial fishermen State marine resource management agency representatives Federal partners: voting Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Federal partners: non voting U.S. Coast Guard U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service ASMFC Department of State
Council Members Ben Hartig, Council Chair Dr. Michelle Duval, Council Vice Chair Obligatory and At large members: nominated by each state s governor appointed by the Secretary of Commerce Members serve 3 year terms (max 3 terms)
Role of Council Members Protect the public interest in the fisheries by balancing competing interests to make decisions for the greatest overall benefit to the Nation.
Federal Fisheries Regulatory Process Council Gathers input from scientists and fishing stakeholders. Develops fishery management plans. NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) Implements federal fishing regulations approve, disapprove, partially approve Reviews amendments from Council. Secretary of Commerce Advisory Panels SEDAR Stock Assessments Scientific & Statistical Committee Public Input throughout process
Advisory Process Council draws upon the expertise of knowledgeable people from other state and federal agencies, universities, and the public.
Advisory Panels Council depends on expertise of the public to review fishery management issues and make recommendations: State and federal agency employees Academics Recreational, commercial, and for hire fishermen Fish dealers Members of non profit organizations
Advisory Panels Interested parties apply and selected by Council Provide recommendations through a formal report to the appropriate Council committee. AP recommendations are considered by the committee in development of management alternatives for FMPs and amendments. AP members serve as information source to Council and staff
Advisory Panels 11 Advisory Panels: Coral Dolphin Wahoo Golden Crab Habitat & Environmental Info. & Education Mackerel Law Enforcement Shrimp Deepwater Shrimp Snapper Grouper Spiny Lobster
Scientific and Statistical Committee Reviews FMPs and Amendments Sets Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Based on Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process
Council Committees Council members serve on various committees (examples): Snapper Grouper Committee Mackerel Committee Shrimp Committee Dolphin Wahoo Committee Law Enforcement Committee AP Selection Committee Development of management alternatives for amendments is done primarily at the committee level. Full Council responsible for final decisions.
Stocks of Fish the Council Manages Coastal Migratory Pelagics (King mackerel/spanish mackerel/cobia) Coral Dolphin Wahoo Golden Crab Habitat Sargassum Shrimp Snapper Grouper Complex Spiny Lobster
Fishery Management Plan Steps End of Council Process
Fishery Management Plan Components Policy mandates NEPA, MMPA, Endangered Species Act, etc. Biological data Economic impacts Social impacts
Policy Mandates Magnuson Stevens Act National Standards National Environmental Policy Act Mandates Options Marine Mammal Protection Act Endangered Species Act
Biological Data Fishery Dependent Logbook data (commercial & charter), port agents MRIP Recreational Fishery Independent Research surveys
Economic and Social Impacts What are the economic impacts of options being considered in the FMP? How will management measures affect the fishing community?
Public Participation is Key! Mandated by Magnuson Stevens Act and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Essential to the Council process and management plan development
Public Input Public Scoping Meetings Public Hearings Written Comments
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council QUESTIONS?