South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
South Atlantic Update Newsletter
A Quarterly Publication of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Spring 2020
On Point - The Council Chair's Perspective
Daily life has been altered for everyone by the coronavirus. Council Chair Jessica McCawley notes the impacts, the opportunities of recreational fishing and social distancing, and the Council's latest Citizen Science pilot project, FISHstory.
Pandemic Effects on Fisheries - Personal perspectives from advisory panel members
With this issue of the newsletter primarily focused on the impacts of the pandemic, we reached out to members of the Council's advisory panels for unique perspectives from across the region and how they are coping.
Pandemic Effects on Fisheries - Fisheries data collection
From dockside interviews to offshore research vessels, the collection of fisheries data has been interrupted as programs come to terms with COVID-19. Learn More about fisheries data collection and how impacts are being addressed.
Pandemic Effects on Fisheries - Council operations
Telecommuting, GoToWebinar, Microsoft Teams, and Google Docs have become the norm as the Council's staff has adjusted operations to deal with measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. There have been lessons learned along the way.
From the Executive Director's Desk
John Carmichael takes a broad look at the impacts of COVID-19 on the fishing community, how fisheries data collection is being affected, and the Council's daily operations that continue to adapt with the pandemic.
June 8-11, 2020 Council Meeting Highlights
The Council's quarterly meeting will be held via webinar June 8-11, 2020. Agenda items include SMZ designations off NC and SC; stock assessment results and catch levels for Greater Amberjack, Red Porgy, and King Mackerel; and proposed measures for Dolphin and Wahoo. Formal public comment will be taken during the meeting and an online public comment form is available.
FISHstory NR Image
Celebrating Citizen Science Month
Each year, Global Citizen Science Month is celebrated in April. See how this celebration has grown and how the Council's Citizen Science Program became a part of this annual celebration for the first time - highlighting its volunteers, partners, and activities, including the newly launched FISHstory pilot project! Learn More
Snippets

  • Commerce Secretary Announces Allocation of $300 Million in CARES Act Funding - Relief funding allocations were announced May 7 to state, Tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants negatively affected by COVID-19. See how these funds were distributed and read more from NOAA Fisheries.

  • President Signs New Executive Order Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. The Executive Order, signed on May 7, calls for the expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production, specifically addressing aquaculture permitting, research and development, regulatory reform to maximize commercial fishing, and restrictions on seafood imports. NOAA Fisheries News

  • Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind announced deployment of a meteorological buoy and associated equipment during the week of May 25, 2020. A Fisheries Notice detailing the location of the metbuoy and equipment is available. Additionally, the M/V Gerry Bordelon will continue its bathymetric and geophysical surveys in the Kitty Hawk Offshore lease area throughout 2020. Contact Rick Robins, representing Avangrid Renewables at 757/876-3778 or [email protected]. Learn more about the project at: http://kittyhawkoffshore.com.