# South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of public scoping meetings.
**SUMMARY:**
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold three virtual public scoping meetings pertaining to Amendment 55 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic Region. This amendment establishes a Scamp and Yellowmouth Complex, establishes a rebuilding plan, catch levels, sector allocations, and accountability measures for the new complex, and updates to the Other South Atlantic Shallow Water Grouper Complex.
**DATES:**
The scoping meetings will take place July 31, August 1, and August 2, 2023, beginning at 6 p.m., EDT. For specific dates and times, see *SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION* .
**ADDRESSES:**
*Meeting address:* The meetings will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to members of the public. Information, including a link to webinar registration will be posted on the Council's website at: *https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/* when it becomes available.
*Council address:* South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; fax: (843) 769-4520; email: *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
Scoping documents, an online public comment form, and other materials will be posted to the Council's website at *https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/* as they become available. Written comments should be addressed to John Carmichael, Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. Written comments must be received by August 4, 2023, by 5 p.m. During the meetings, Council staff will provide an overview of actions being considered in the amendment. Staff will answer clarifying questions on the presented information and the proposed actions. Following the presentation and questions, the public will have the opportunity to provide comments on the amendment.
**Amendment 55 to the Snapper Grouper FMP**
The most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 68) assessed scamp and yellowmouth grouper as a single species due to misidentification between the two species and indicated that the stock is overfished but not subject to overfishing. In response to this assessment the Council will need to establish the Scamp Yellowmouth Grouper Complex (which entails revising the composition of the Other Shallow Water Grouper Complex), establish stock determination criteria for the new complex, a rebuilding plan, annual catch limits, allocations and sector annual catch limits, and accountability measures.
**Special Accommodations**
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see *ADDRESSES* ) 5 days prior to the meeting.
**Note:**
The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change.
*Authority:* 16 U.S.C. 1801 *et seq.*
Dated: July 11, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.