South Atlantic spawning-zone sunset gets a Nov. 9 hearing, including Florida’s Warsaw Hole

Three South Atlantic spawning closures that were built with a 10-year sunset are up for a public hearing. A Federal Register notice published Oct. 16, 2026, says the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold one virtual hearing on Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 39 on Monday, Nov. 9, beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern. Registration is required. The webinar link is on the council’s events page.

Amendment 36 in 2016 created five spawning special management zones. Three of them carry the sunset: South Cape Lookout, North Carolina; Georgetown/Devil’s Hole, South Carolina; and Warsaw Hole, Florida. The notice says the sunset gave 10 years for research and monitoring, and the council is considering extending it another 10 years so that work can continue. The zones were created to protect spawning fish and their habitat.

Written comments go to Executive Director John Carmichael at the council office in North Charleston and must arrive by 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2026. An online comment form will be posted with the hearing documents. Staff contact is Allie Iberle, (843) 225-8135.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Federal Register — South Atlantic Fishery Management Council public meetings (Oct. 16, 2026). Hearing page: SAFMC — November 2026 snapper-grouper Regulatory Amendment 39 hearings.