South Atlantic Sargassum Historical Amendments and Rulemaking (2003-2012)

The list below contains information about amendments and rule-making that were effective during 2012 and earlier. While our website is in transition, to view historical amendments that are not found on this page, please visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Sargassum FMP webpage. For more recent amendments and rule-making, please visit the Sagassum FMP page.

Amendment 2: Comprehensive ACL Amendment

Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment: Established acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rules, establish ABCs, ACLs, and AMs for species not undergoing overfishing; removed some species from South Atlantic FMU and designate others as ecosystem component species; specified allocations between the commercial and, recreational sectors for species not undergoing overfishing; limited the total mortality for federally managed species in the South Atlantic to the ACLs.

• Proposed Rule, 76 FR 74757.
• Amended Proposed Rule, 76 FR 82264.
• Final Rule, 77 FR 15915. Effective April 16, 2012.

Amendment 1: CEBA 2

This amendment was included under the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 (CE-BA 2) and designated or modified EFH and EFH-HAPCs, including the FMP for Pelagic Sargassum Habitat.

• Proposed Rule, 76 FR 69230.
• Final Rule, 76 FR 82183. January 30, 2012.
• Final Rule, Correction, 77 FR 29555. Effective May 18, 2012.

Original Fishery Management Plan

The approved plan includes strong limitations on future commercial harvest. Restrictions include the prohibition of harvest south of the NC/SC state boundary, a total allowable catch of 5,000 pounds wet weight per year, the harvest is limited to November through June to protect turtles, the requirement for observers onboard any vessel harvesting Sargassum, prohibition of harvest within 100 miles of shore, and harvesting gear specifications.

• Proposed Rule, 68 FR 32450.
• Final Rule, 68 FR 57375. Effective November 3, 2003.