The Snapper-Grouper Complex is a diverse group of fishes managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. They are targeted by recreational and commercial fishermen throughout the South Atlantic region (Virginia and North Carolina border through the Florida Keys).

Several species in the region managed by the Council are overfished and experiencing overfishing based on the findings of recent age-based stock assessments. The Council has responded to the findings of these stock assessments by revising the sustainable catch levels for each species. Due to the significant reductions needed to constrain catch for multiple stocks, the Council is considering a holistic approach to manage the multi-species fishery that will address overfishing and rebuild depleted stocks through an evaluation of different management approaches.

The MSE will consider the biological, economic, and social impacts of different management approaches. The openMSE framework will be used to develop and condition operating models based on the available fishery data, design customized management procedures for the Snapper-Grouper fishery, and evaluate the performance of these management procedures using closed-loop simulation testing. Performance metrics recommended by the public and the Council will be used to evaluate the relative performance of the management approaches to achieving objectives.