Federal permit issues involved in both fisheries.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) approved two fishery management plan amendments for Secretarial review at its December meeting in North Carolina, that recreational anglers may find of interest.

Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources will establish a limited access system for the commercial fishery for Gulf and Atlantic king mackerel. Under the amendment, a commercial king mackerel limited access permit will replace the existing commercial king mackerel permit. The new system replaces the current permit moratorium for the fishery, scheduled to expire in October 2005. Establishment of the limited access system will cap participation at current levels and provides for long-term social and economic stability in the mackerel fisheries.

Amendment 6 of the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan will establish a comprehensive data collection program by creating a permit for South Atlantic shrimp vessels in federal waters. The data program will identify the number and types of vessels in the fishery, obtain accurate information on fishing effort, and collect additional data needed for effective management, including biological, economic and social assessments.

It also addresses bykill issues of the shrimpboat fishery, including methods to monitor and assess bycatch associated with shrimp trawling, use of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) in the rock shrimp fishery, and procedures to authorize new and improved designs for BRDs.

FS