South Atlantic Shrimp Historical Amendments and Rulemaking (1993-2019)

The list below contains information about amendments and rule-making that were effective during 2018 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 Shrimp FMP page.  For more recent amendments and rule-making, please visit the Shrimp FMP page.

Amendment 10: Generic Joint Dealer Reporting Amendment

Joint South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Generic Dealer Reporting Amendment: Modifies the permitting and reporting requirements for seafood dealers who first receive species managed by the Councils through the previously mentioned FMPs. These revisions create a single dealer permit for dealers who first receive fish managed by the Councils, require both purchase and non-purchase reports to be submitted online on a weekly basis, prohibit dealers from first receiving fish from federally permitted vessels if they are delinquent in submitting reports, and change the sale and purchase provisions based on the new dealer permitting requirements. This rule also adds regulatory language to clarify the bag limit for private recreational vessels when a trip exceeds one calendar day

• Notice of Availability, 79 FR 76807
• Proposed Rule, 79 FR 81
• Final Rule, 79 FR 19490

Amendment 9: Penaeid Shrimp Closures and Overfishing Definitions

Addressed revising the criteria and procedures by which South Atlantic states may request a concurrent closure of the penaeid shrimp (brown, pink, and white shrimp) commercial sector in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in order to protect overwintering white shrimp. Amendment 9 also updated the current overfished and overfishing status determination criteria for pink shrimp.

• Proposed Rule, 78 FR 17178.
• Final Rule, 78 FR 35571. Effective July 15, 2013.

Amendment 8: Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1

The amendment was included under Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 (CE-BA 1), and designated four portions of one of the Deepwater Coral HAPCs as shrimp fishery access areas.

• Notice of Availability, 75 FR 9864
• Proposed Rule, 75 FR 14548.
• Final Rule,  75 FR 35330. Effective July 22, 2010.

Amendment 7: Rock Shrimp Limited Access Endorsements

Addressed the current landing requirement for rock shrimp limited access endorsements, reinstates endorsements lost due either to not meeting the landing requirement in one of four consecutive calendar years or not renewing the endorsement on time, renames the permit/endorsement system to minimize confusion; requires verification of a Vessel Monitoring System to renew, reinstate or transfer a limited access endorsement; and requires provision of economic data by federal shrimp permit holders.  

• Notice of Availability, 74 FR 26170
• Proposed Rule, 74 FR 30034.
• Final Rule, 74 FR 50699. Effective November 2, 2009.

Amendment 6: Penaeid Shrimp Federal Permit and BRDs

Established a federal permit for the penaeid (pink, white, and brown) shrimp, required (Bycatch reduction device) BRD's in the rock shrimp fishery, amended the BRD Testing Protocol and criteria for certification, established a method to monitor and assess bycatch in the rock shrimp and penaeid shrimp fishery, and addressed stock status determination criteria.

• Proposed Rule, 70 FR 30666.
• Final Rule, 70 FR 73383. Effective January 11, 2006, except for Sec. 622.4(a)(2)(xiii) which is effective April 11, 2006.

Amendment 5: Rock Shrimp Limited Access Program and VMS

Addressed requirements for the rock shrimp fishery including the establishment of a limited access program requiring limited access endorsements for owners of vessels who qualified; required operator permits; established a minimum mesh size for the cod end of a rock shrimp trawl in the EEZ off Florida and Georgia of 1 7/8 inches to allow the escapement of juvenile shrimp; and required the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for vessels operating in the South Atlantic to protect increase enforcement capability and protect habitat, especially the Oculina Bank HAPC off of the East Coast of Florida that is closed to trawling.

• Proposed Rule, 67 FR 56516.
• Final Rule, 68 FR 2188. Effective February 18, 2003.

Amendment 4: Addressing Sustainable Fishery Act Definitions and Other Required Provisions

Amended the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) as required to make definitions of MSY, OY, overfishing and overfished consistent with "National Standard Guidelines"; identified and defined fishing communities and addressed bycatch management measures.

• Proposed Rule, 64 FR 27952.
• Final Rule, 64 FR 59126. Effective December 2, 1999.

Amendment 3: Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and EFH-HAPCs

Identified Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and EFH - Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.

• Proposed Rule, 64 FR 37082. 
• Final Rule, 65 FR 37292. Effective July 14, 2000.

Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Protocol Manual

The specifications in this document are used by the states and researchers testing the effectiveness of any new or modified BRD in reducing bycatch of target species as specified by the council.

Amendment 2: Pink Shrimp and Bycatch Reduction

Added pink shrimp to the management unit; Defined overfishing for brown and pink shrimp; Defined optimum yield for brown and pink shrimp; Required the use of certified bycatch reduction devices in all penaeid shrimp trawls in the South Atlantic EEZ; and Established a framework for BRD certification which specifies BRD certification criteria and testing protocol.

• Proposed Rule, 62 FR 720.
• Final Rule, 62 FR 18536. Effective April 21, 1997.

Amendment 1: Rock Shrimp

Added rock shrimp to the management unit; Limited the impact of the rock shrimp fishery on essential bottom habitat by prohibiting trawling for rock shrimp east of 80° W longitude between 27°30' N. latitude and 28°30' N. latitude in depths less than 100 fathoms; and Implemented measures to ensure adequate reporting and monitoring of the fishery.

• Proposed Rule, 61 FR 17866
• Final Rule, 61 FR 47446. Effective October 9, 1996; except that the amendments to Secs. 622.4, 622.5, and 622.45 are effective November 1, 1996.

  ---

   

Original Fishery Management Plan

Provided South Atlantic states with the ability to request concurrent closure of the white shrimp fishery in the EEZ adjacent to their closed state waters following severe winter cold weather; Established a buffer zone extending seaward from shore 25 nautical miles, inside which no trawling is allowed with a net having less than 4 inches stretch mesh during an EEZ closure. The plan also provides for transit through the EEZ during closure of the white shrimp fishery.

• Proposed Rule, 58 FR 40614.
• Final Rule, 58 FR 57750. Effective November 26, 1993.