Hearings on tap for management of Snapper-Grouper fishery

A series of important public hearings which could shape how the snapper-grouper fishery off the South Atlantic coast will be managed in the future begin in South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina next week.

The hearings relate to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's long-term vision for managing the snapper-grouper fishery, and the council is seeking public input.

Meetings have already been held in Florida, with South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina up next.

The first meeting will be held on the Grand Strand, set for Monday, 6 p.m., at the Murrells Inlet Community Center at 4450 Murrells Inlet Road in Murrells Inlet.

Other meetings to follow include:

▪ Tuesday at Mt. Pleasant Waterworks, 1619 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, S.C., 29465.

▪ July 22,, 6 p.m., Sapelo Saltwater Fishing Club, 3575 Old Shellman Bluff Road NE, Shellman Bluff, Ga., 31331

▪ July 23, 6 p.m., GA DNR Coastal Resources Division, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, Ga., 31520

▪ July 28, 6 p.m., UNC Wilmington Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, N.C.

▪ July 29, 6 p.m., N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, Central District Office, 5285 Hwy. 70 West, Morehead City, N.C., 28557

▪ July 30, 6 p.m., UNC Coastal Studies Institute, 850 N.C. Hwy. 345, Wanchese, N.C., 27981

Written comments can also be sent to Amber Von Harten, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, S.C., 29401 or fax to 843-769-4520.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Hearings on tap for management of Snapper-Grouper fishery."