ABSTRACT
Introduction The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC or South Atlantic Council) is one of eight U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils charged with conservation and management of sheries in the exclusive economic zones. The reauthorized MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (2007) sets forth the authority of the councils, under shery management plans, to designate zones to protect deepwater corals from damage caused by shing gear. The South Atlantic Council has made considerable progress toward the conservation of deepwater corals and associated habitats in the southeastern region of the United States. Through the Coral Fishery Management Plan via designation of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) and establishing criteria for HAPC designations, Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 through designation of deepwater coral HAPCs (CHAPC), and the measures under development in Coral Amendment 8 via expansion of CHAPCs, the South Atlantic Council has taken
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 39 The Coral Fishery Management Plan .........................................................................................40
