Abstract

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for management of the fishery resources in the South Atlantic in federal waters off the states of North Carolina through the Florida East Coast. The Council process was created in 1976, and the first fishery management plan written by the South Atlantic. Council covered the snapper grouper fishery which was implemented in 1983. The Council is currently working on Amendments Numbers 8 and 9 to the snapper grouper fishery management plan as well as a number of other plans and amendments.\Based on 15 years experience, the process of witting and more importantly implementing fishery management plans is described. Involving fishermen in the process through advisory panels, scientists through scientific and statistical committees and the general public through open meetings and public hearings is described.

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