The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Catch up on last week’s Council meeting in Jekyll Island, GA, including the draft report from mackerel port meetings. Issues affecting the commercial snapper grouper fishery, for-hire reporting, and red snapper were also addressed. Check out the meeting news release for a summary here: https://lnkd.in/e2wb-Cg3 #SAFMC #CouncilMeeting #FisheriesManagement #SnapperGrouper

Reminder- the Council will meet next week in Jekyll Island, GA. Agenda items include discussion of Black Sea Bass, Golden Tilefish, and King and Spanish Mackerel. Check out the latest SA Bite newsletter for more information on the meeting along with other news! https://lnkd.in/eTT9wpmt #SAFMC #SABite #CitSci #SharkDepredation #Snapper #Grouper #Mackerel

Flex your ID muscles this #CitSciFri with a fish identification challenge! Know this species of fish? Drop your answer below and let us know what clues you used to make the identification. Then scroll down the post to check your answer. You can become even more of an expert with the shallow water grouper ID guide! This guide dives into those tricky shallow water groupers and provides side-by-side comparisons to help make every ID a snap. https://lnkd.in/g3JJFNBk #CitizenScience #SAFMCcitsci #SAFMCRelease Answer: Coney PC: K. Odonnell

Ever wonder why fish are slimy? That mucus coating isn’t just for show- it plays a crucial role in helping fish move efficiently through the water, while also providing a barrier against disease, parasites, and injury. When handling fish, it’s important to use wet hands to avoid damaging that protective layer. Dry hands can remove the mucus, leaving the fish vulnerable. Learn more #BestFishingPractices at https://lnkd.in/eRhyTXQW.

This Valentine’s Day, show a little love to the fish you catch, because nothing says romantic like using your #BestFishingPractices! When a fish is reeled up quickly from deep waters, it may experience barotrauma. This pressure related injury causes gas to expand, which may lead to the eyes bulging, stomach protruding from the mouth, and even the scales bubbling. But don’t fret, you can help! A weighted tool called a descending device is like a second chance at love, safely returning fish to depth, letting the gas recompress. So, if you're out playing the field (aka fishing) for snapper or grouper, make sure to have a descending device readily available, meaning attached to at least 60 feet of line and 16 ounces of weight. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eRhyTXQW.

Tomorrow from 1-2:30 pm, the SAFMC Seminar Series continues with a presentation on using harvest strategies to respond to climate induced changes in productivity. Register for the seminar here: https://lnkd.in/dzyCy-ym. #SAFMC #SeminarSeries #FisheriesManagement #FisheriesScience #Climate #Flounder

This #CitSciFri, discover a new way to support your fisheries! Fishermen like you have valuable experience on the water and your observations are meaningful. One of the ways you can use those observations to benefit your fisheries is #citizenscience! Citizen science can bring together fishermen and researchers to start answering some long-standing questions about our fisheries. Interested in citizen science, but unsure where to start? Try checking out the citizen science section on the Fish Rules app! The app is not just a great way to stay on top of regulations based on your location, but it also has a page that lists some fisheries-focused citizen science projects (including some from our Citizen Science Program). You can find this list on their app or website: https://lnkd.in/eyTpkhmA Check out our Citizen Science Program to see if we have a project that would be a good fit for you: https://lnkd.in/e9tg4TsJ #Fisheries #SAFMCRelease #FISHstory #SAFMCcitsci

The Council's Law Enforcement Advisory Panel will meet via webinar today at 1 pm. Tune in and submit public comment here: https://lnkd.in/enMWgbAz #SAFMC #federalfisheries #lawenforcement

Reminder that scoping comments for proposed changes to Black Sea Bass management are due this week; Request for Proposals to gauge recreational fishing attitudes; Reports to Congress on recreational data collection; Reminder that NOAA Fisheries is holding in-person public hearings for Secretarial Amendment 59 addressing Red Snapper, starting this week. Check out the latest issue of the SA Bite for this and more news: https://lnkd.in/ePwNdwHP #SAFMC #SABite #BlackSeaBass #RedSnapper

This #CitSciFri, dive into the story of FISHstory with a Moultrie News article on the project! FISHstory uses historic fishing photos to help us better understand fisheries of the past and present. Check out the article to discover how a Florida fisherman with hundreds of family photos helped FISHstory first get started and hear from a South Carolina charter captain who’s shared his historic photos with the growing project. Check out the article: https://lnkd.in/e7mVYjBA Have historic fishing photos? Want to share your piece of history with the project? Visit our webpage. https://lnkd.in/eUwV5Aeg #CitizenScience #SAFMCcitsci #FISHstory PC: C. Griffin