Section
302 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSFCMA) established the eight Regional Fishery Management
Councils (RFMC). The objectives of these councils are to develop,
monitor and revise fishery management plans and data collection
programs for domestic and foreign fishing conducted within the
200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is done with
the approval and implementation of the Secretary of Commerce,
who has stewardship responsibilities under MSFCMA for living
marine resources in the EEZ.
The
Councils are described as "quasi-government"
– allied with the Department of Commerce, but given authority
to be self-determinate in their own affairs. The RFMCs derive their
existence solely by statute and function as components of the Department
of Commerce. Congress specifically funds the Councils, but the
Council members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from
the private sector. Members are not Federal employees. There are
three RFMCs within the NMFS Southeast Region:
Gulf
of Mexico Fisheries Management Council
The Gulf Council consists of the States of Texas Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida and has authority over the fisheries in the
Gulf of Mexico seaward of these states except for highly migratory
species that occur within the geographical area of authority of
more than one of the Councils. The Gulf Council has 17 voting members,
with at least one from each state. For further information visit
the Gulf Council's web page.
South
Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
The South Atlantic Council consists of the States of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and ha has authority over
the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico seaward of these states except
for highly migratory species that occur within the geographical
area of authority of more than one of the Councils. The South Atlantic
Council has 13 voting members, with at least one from each state.
For further information visit the South
Atlantic Council's web page.
Caribbean
Fisheries Management Council
The Caribbean Council consists of the Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico and has authority over the fisheries in the Caribbean
Sea and Atlantic Ocean seaward of these U.S. possessions, except
for highly migratory species that occur within the geographical
area of authority of more than one of the Councils. The Caribbean
Council has seven (7) voting members with at least one from each
possession. For further information visit the Caribbean
Council's web page.
