Thankful for returning my call, more info/time spent than I anticipated, and I’ll leave it at that. I’ll try to summarize.
SAMFC is bound by law …MS Act requires various numbers being established for all species. MS Act was amended to attach workable numbers to all species in 2 years. No way near enough time…10 years was the way it was long ago. There is not enough time nor does reliable data exist…they know it. Arguing at SAFMC meetings about how reliable the data is worthless. SAMFC panel is bound by the MS Act to make decisions now. There is little to no flexibility in the MS Act. Problem is SAFMC must make decisions and if its wrong… they cannot adjust later easily under the MS Act as now written (ie…closure based on guesstimates and you may still catching fish). Additionally, years can go by until the SAMFC looks at species/closures/limits the way the MS Act is now written.
Commercial and recs arguing amongst themselves is exactly what “they” want. At every SAMFC meeting “they” (any number of hard core enviromentalist groups) will be there taking notes, but so far they rarely speak. The SAFMC panel generally knows who they are. Make no mistake…there absolutely are people and environmentalist groups that do not want you fishing. The SAFMC panel has an idea formed beforehand based on the best available data already mentioned but will hear what you have to say (they know the data is dubious). If they SAFMC panel is on the fence and disagreeing (they always are), fishermen’s input at these meetings can make some difference when the panel decides your limits as per the MS Act requiring them to do so. The panel has diverse interest, expertise, experience, knowledge.
Geography. Our region is composed of FL thru NC. Georgia has much longer runs to grounds geographically as we are in a pocket. FL/NC with anglers’ have shorter runs yet decisions get made unilaterally throughout our entire designated region by majority vote. For you blue water guys who think you have dodged the bullet so far…