South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the Habitat and Ecosystem Committee; the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review Catch Advice and Data Committee; and the Snapper Grouper Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment session and closed and open meetings of the Full Council.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55520-55521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17542]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XG005]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; 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 Habitat and Ecosystem Committee; the Southeast 
Data, Assessment and Review Catch Advice and Data Committee; and the 
Snapper Grouper Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal 
public comment session and closed and open meetings of the Full 
Council.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, 
September 14, 2026, until 12 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Drury Plaza 
Hotel North Charleston, 2934 West Montague, North Charleston, SC 29418; 
phone (843) 938-1503. 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#6f02161d0e410d1d001a180a1d2f1c0e09020c41010a1b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85e8fcf7e4abe7f7eaf0f2e0f7c5f6e4e3e8e6abebe0f1">[email&#160;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. Written comments will be accepted from August 28, 2026, until 
September 18, 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:

Council Session I, Monday, September 14, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Council will meet in closed session to receive a litigation 
brief, if needed, review proposed changes to the advisory panel policy 
to clarify term limits, consider establishing chair and vice chair 
positions for the Citizen Science Operations Advisory Panel (AP), hold 
a discussion related to membership in the Executive Committee, review 
the Award of Excellence criteria, and make appointments to APs and 
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) workshop observers.

Council Session I, Monday, September 14, 2026, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    Newly appointed Council members will be sworn in and the 2025 Law 
Enforcement Officer of the Year Award will be presented. The Council 
will receive the following reports: a litigation brief, state agencies, 
Council liaisons, and the Shrimp Workgroup. The Council will also 
receive an update on Executive Order 14276. The National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Regional Office (SERO) and Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) will provide updates to the Council, 
including a presentation on discards in South Atlantic fisheries and 
the Observer Program. The Council will also receive a presentation on 
landings of unmanaged species and an update on the Resilient Fisheries 
projects. A presentation to review information on the scoping process 
for potential Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan modifications 
will also be delivered. Lastly, the Council will receive updates on 
managed species outside its jurisdiction.

[[Page 55521]]

Habitat and Ecosystem Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 8:30 a.m. 
Until 10:30 a.m.

    The Committee will receive a presentation on the Ecosystem 
Information Review project and a report from the Habitat and Ecosystem 
AP. The Committee will consider recommending approval of the revised 
Food Webs and Connectivity Policy and the Alterations to Riverine, 
Estuarine and Nearshore Flows Policy. The Committee will also review 
topics for a future meeting of the Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory 
Panel.

SEDAR Catch Advice and Data Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 
10:45 a.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the SEDAR Steering 
Committee, review assessment updates and the SEDAR schedule, and 
conduct the stock risk rating for hogfish, black grouper, and gag. The 
Committee will review terms of reference for red grouper, snowy 
grouper, and vermilion snapper. The Committee will review and approve 
an outline and timeline for the Standardized Bycatch Reduction 
Methodology review and receive an update on the Southeast Reef Fish 
Survey and the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 3:45 p.m. Until 
5 p.m., Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:45 p.m., and 
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 8:30 a.m. Until 2:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive updates from the NMFS on amendments 
undergoing rulemaking and Exempted Fishing Permit applications. 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.
    The Committee will discuss Amendment 44 to the Snapper Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan addressing jurisdictional and sector 
allocations of yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper, and Regulatory 
Amendment 39 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan addressing 
sunsetting of Spawning Special Management Zones. The Committee will 
consider approving these two amendments for public hearings. The 
Committee will continue discussing Amendment 60 to the Snapper Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan addressing commercial management measures and 
receive a presentation on Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and 
notification requirements. The Committee will review comments from 
public hearings held over the summer and approve all actions in the 
amendment. A public hearing on Amendment 60 will also be held, and 
comment will be accepted during the public comment period.
    Wednesday, September 16, 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's meeting agenda. The Council Chair 
will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter based on 
the number of individuals wishing to comment.
    The Committee will continue discussing Regulatory Amendment 38 to 
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, which addresses vessel 
limits for headboats, and will receive an update on the Snapper Grouper 
Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) and the Wreckfish MSE. The 
Committee will provide comments and draft conclusions and 
recommendations for the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota Program 
Review. Lastly, the Committee will receive a report from the Blueline 
Tilefish Joint Sub-Committee and review and approve topics for the fall 
meeting of the Snapper Grouper AP.

Council Session II, Thursday, September 17, 2:45 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    The Council will hold elections for Chair and Vice Chair. The 
Council will then discuss a comprehensive amendment to address 
commercial trip limit sale and revise the abbreviated framework 
process. The Council will discuss potential modifications to the 
requirements for sea turtle release gear, management of cownose rays, 
and review and approve topics for the fall meeting of the Mackerel 
Cobia AP.

Council Session II, Friday, September 18, 8;30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Council will review its workplan, reports from the committees 
that met during the week and the June 2026 report from the Executive 
Committee, review upcoming meetings, 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: August 25, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17542 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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