South Carolina Aquarium Exempted Fishing Permit Application

If granted, the EFP would allow harvest of marine species including snapper-grouper, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, golden crab, dolphin, wahoo, Atlantic cobia, spiny lobster, and shrimp in federal waters off South Carolina and less frequently in federal waters off North Carolina (EFP Application, Appendix A). Specimens would be collected for aquarium exhibits using vertical hook-and-line gear with artificial and natural baits, black sea bass pots, spiny lobster traps, golden crab traps, bait traps, minnow traps, octopus traps, hand nets, and dip nets.  All attempts would be made to release all non-targeted bycatch species alive through utilization of venting and controlled ascent/descent procedures. No black sea bass pots, spiny lobster traps, and golden crab traps would be deployed from November 1 through April 30 to avoid interactions with North Atlantic right whales during their calving season.

The purpose of the collections is to incorporate native species into educational exhibits at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina, and teach the public about stewardship and habitat preservation.

This EFP would be valid from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027

EFP Application

• Application
• Federal Register Notice (87 FR 11694)
• Fishery Bulletin (FB22-011)

More Information

• For project reports, please contact Sustainable Fisheries at 727-824-5305
• Return to the South Atlantic Branch Homepage

• Return to all recent and current South Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permits