South Atlantic Fishery Management Council-Public Meetings

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold one virtual public hearing pertaining to Regulatory Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic Region.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 65730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XG097]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council--Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold one virtual public hearing pertaining to Regulatory Amendment 39 
to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery in 
the South Atlantic Region.

DATES: The public hearing will take place November 9, 2026, beginning 
at 6 p.m., EDT. For specific dates and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting addresses: The meeting will be held via webinar and is open 
to the public. Registration is required. Webinar registration 
information is available on the Council's website at: <a href="https://safmc.net/events/nov-2026-public-hearings-snapper-grouper-regulatory-amendment-39/">https://safmc.net/events/nov-2026-public-hearings-snapper-grouper-regulatory-amendment-39/</a>.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allie Iberle, Fishery Scientist, 
SAFMC; phone (843) 225-8135 or toll free (866) SAFMC-10; FAX (843) 769-
4520; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d6b7bababfb3f8bfb4b3a4bab396a5b7b0bbb5f8b8b3a2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f2e2323262a61262d2a3d232a0f3c2e29222c61212a3b">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public hearing documents, an online public 
comment form, and other materials will be posted to the Council's 
website at <a href="https://safmc.net/events/nov-2026-public-hearings-snapper-grouper-regulatory-amendment-39/">https://safmc.net/events/nov-2026-public-hearings-snapper-grouper-regulatory-amendment-39/</a> as they become available. Written 
comments should be addressed to John Carmichael, Executive Director, 
SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405. 
Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. November 13, 2026. During 
the hearings Council staff will provide an overview of actions being 
considered in the amendment. Staff will answer clarifying questions on 
the presented information and the proposed actions. Following the 
presentation and questions, the public will have the opportunity to 
provide comments on the amendment.

Regulatory Amendment 39 (Sunsetting of the Spawning Special Management 
Zones)

    In 2016, Amendment 36 established five spawning special management 
zones (SSMZs): South Cape Lookout, North Carolina; Georgetown/Devil's 
Hole, Area 51 and Area 53, South Carolina; and Warsaw Hole, Florida. 
The goal of these areas was to protect spawning fish and their habitat. 
Three of the SSMZs, South Cape Lookout, Georgetown/Devil's Hole, and 
Warsaw Hole had a sunset provision on the regulations put in place 
through this amendment. The sunset provision allowed 10 years to 
conduct research and monitoring in the SSMZs to determine if they 
provided protection for spawning fish. The Council is now considering 
extending the sunset provision for an additional 10 years to allow more 
time for additional research and monitoring.

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: October 14, 2026.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-21178 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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