Comprehensive Amendment Addressing Essential Fish Habitat in Fishery Management Plans of the South Atlantic Region Amendment 3 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 1 to the Red Drum Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 10 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 10 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan Amendment 1 to the Golden Crab Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 5 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan, and Amendment 4 to the Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitat Fishery Management Plan

In addition to implementing regulations to protect habitat from fishing related degradation, the Council actively comments on non-fishing projects or policies that may impact fish habitat. In response to an earlier amendment to the Magnuson Act, the Council adopted a habitat policy and procedure document that established a four state Habitat Advisory Panel and adopted a comment and policy development process. Members of the Habitat Advisory Panel serve as the Councils’ habitat contacts and professionals in the field. The Advisory Panel is structured and functions differently than other panels. The Panel is made up of four state sub-panels each having representatives from the state marine fisheries agency, the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, state coastal zone management agency, conservationist, commercial fishermen, and recreational fishermen. In addition to the state representatives, at large members on the overall panel include representatives from EPA Region IV, NMFS Southeast Fisheries Center, NMFS SERO, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and NMFS Habitat Conservation Division Headquarters. This body functions as a whole or as sub-panel depending on the scope of the issue. The Panel serves to provide the Council with both expert recommendations on activities being considered for permitting as well as guidance in development of Habitat policy statements. With guidance from the Panel, the Council, has developed and approved policies on; oil and gas exploration, development and transportation; dredging and dredge material disposal; submerged aquatic vegetation, and ocean dumping. These are included in Section 5 of this document under recommendations to protect EFH. 1998 Award No. NA87FC0004 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) Submitted https://doi.org/10.25923/m71h-5h62 Public Domain 1861