The objective of this study is to evaluate and document whether spawning of priority snapper/grouper species is occurring at south cape lookout (SCL) and warsaw hole (WH) spawning special management…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $263,862 Cooperative Agreement under the Unallied Management Projects (CFDA 11.454) federal grant program to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on January 1, 2025. The objective of this study is to evaluate and document whether spawning of priority snapper/grouper species is occurring at the South Cape Lookout (SCL) and Warsaw Hole (WH) Spawning Special Management Zones (SSMZs). This study aims to fill a data gap and provide requisite information on spawning in the SSMZs to inform the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (SAFMC) upcoming decisions on the management fate of these protected areas. The study is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2025.

The objective of this study is to evaluate and document whether spawning of priority snapper/grouper species is occurring at south cape lookout (SCL) and warsaw hole (WH) spawning special management zones (SSMZS). This study aims to fill that data GAP, providing missing but requisite information on spawning in the SSMZS to inform the safmc's upcoming decisions on the management fate of these protected areas.