Notice2026-03167
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the following: Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub- Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee, and Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment session and meetings of the Full Council.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7446-7447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03167]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF540]
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold meetings of the following: Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-
Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee, and Southeast Data Assessment and
Review (SEDAR) Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal
public comment session and meetings of the Full Council.
DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 2 p.m. on Monday, March 2,
2026, until 12 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Villas by
the Sea Resort, 1175 N Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527; phone
(912) 635-2521. The meeting will also be available via webinar. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra Brouwer, Deputy Director for
Management, SAFMC; phone (843) 302-8436 or toll free (866) SAFMC-10;
FAX (843) 769-4520; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#325f4b40531c50405d47455740724153545f511c5c5746"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2cfdbd0c38cc0d0cdd7d5c7d0e2d1c3c4cfc18cccc7d6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting information, including agendas,
overviews, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council's
website at: <a href="https://safmc.net/council-meetings/">https://safmc.net/council-meetings/</a>. Webinar registration
links for the meeting will also be available from the Council's
website.
Public comment: Public comment on agenda items may be submitted
through the Council's online comment form available from the Council's
website at: <a href="https://safmc.net/events/march-2026-council-meeting/">https://safmc.net/events/march-2026-council-meeting/</a>.
Written comments will be accepted from February 13, 2026, until March
6, 2026. These comments are accessible to the public, part of the
Administrative Record of the meeting, and immediately available for
Council consideration. A formal public comment session will also be
held during the Council meeting.
The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as
follows:
Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-Committee, Monday, March 2, 2026, 2 p.m.
Until 5 p.m.
The Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-Committee will continue
reviewing management measures proposed in Amendment 60 to the Snapper
Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address permits and trip efficiency
in the commercial fishery. The Sub-Committee will also receive feedback
from the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel regarding the proposed
measures.
Council Session I, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 3 p.m.
The Council will receive a litigation brief and reports from state
agencies, Council liaisons, the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel,
Resilient Fisheries projects, the Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel,
Lines of Communications meetings, and the Shrimp Workgroup. The Council
will also receive briefings from the National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center
(SEFSC). The Council will receive a presentation on NOAA fisheries
progress towards a value/risk matrix for managed stocks and review a
draft comment letter on the proposed rule for commercial Atlantic
Blacknose Shark and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries.
Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 3:15 p.m. Until 5
p.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:45 p.m., and
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.
The Committee will receive updates from the National Marine
Fisheries Service on amendments undergoing rulemaking, any new Exempted
Fishing Permit (EFP) applications, and the EFPs that were submitted in
November 2025 by the South Atlantic states to pilot state management of
the recreational Red Snapper fishery in the South Atlantic.
The Committee will review the report from the Commercial Sub-
Committee meeting held earlier in the week. The Committee will discuss
an amendment to address sunsetting of Spawning Special Management Zones
and consider feedback from the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel on
enforcement and compliance with the closed areas. The Committee will
review information on potential changes to regulations for South
Atlantic headboats and consider feedback on this topic from the Law
Enforcement Advisory Panel. The Committee will also review sector
allocations for Vermilion Snapper and Red Grouper.
The Committee will continue discussion of Amendment 61 to the
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to evaluate the composition of
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Unit and consider feedback from
the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The Committee will receive an
update on the status of needed information to continue developing
Amendment 56 addressing Black Sea Bass and review progress on Amendment
44 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan addressing catch
levels for Yellowtail Snapper and Mutton Snapper. The Committee is
scheduled to finalize an Innovation Plan for the Snapper Grouper
Fishery and review topics for the spring meeting of the Snapper Grouper
Advisory Panel.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 4 p.m.--Public comment will be accepted
from individuals attending the meeting in person and via webinar on all
items on the Council meeting agenda. The Council Chair will determine
the amount of time provided to each commenter based on the number of
individuals wishing to comment.
SEDAR Committee, March 5, 2026, 1:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.
The Committee will receive a report from the SEDAR Steering
Committee and discuss SEDAR process updates.
[[Page 7447]]
The Committee will review statements of work and terms of reference for
upcoming assessments and discuss the Committee's scope and name change.
Council Session II, Thursday, March 5, 3:45 p.m. Until 5 p.m. and
Friday, March 6, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.
The Council will receive an update on progress on the Dolphin
Management Strategy Evaluation from the SEFSC and review the Council's
response to Executive Order 14276 in 2025. The Council will review its
workplan, topics for the spring meeting of the Outreach and
Communication Advisory Panel, and upcoming meetings for the year. The
Council will review reports from the committees that met during the
week and discuss any other business as needed.
Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council
office (see ADDRESSES).
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's
intent to take final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the
council office (see ADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are
subject to change.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: February 13, 2026.
Becky J. Curtis,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-03167 Filed 2-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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