Rule2025-18406
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2025 Commercial Closure of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 23, 2025
Effective
September 24, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that commercial landings of red snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 182 (Tuesday, September 23, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 23, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45673-45674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18406]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 250606-0095; RTID 0648-XF107]
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2025 Commercial Closure of Red
Snapper in the South Atlantic
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for red snapper in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects
that commercial landings of red snapper will reach the commercial
annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is
closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic
EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from September 24, 2025,
through December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f727e6d6631697e6d7e5f71707e7e31787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8c5c9dad186dec9dac9e8c6c7c9c986cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes red snapper and is managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council and NMFS, and was approved and is implemented by
NMFS on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
On June 11, 2025, NMFS published a final rule in the Federal
Register to end overfishing of red snapper in Federal waters of the
South Atlantic (90 FR 24527). Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(y)(1)
specify the commercial ACL and accountability measure for red snapper
in the South Atlantic for the 2025 fishing year. The commercial ACL is
102,951 pounds (lb) or 46,698 kilograms (kg) in round weight. NMFS is
required to close the commercial sector for red snapper when NMFS
projects its landings will reach or have
[[Page 45674]]
reached the commercial ACL. NMFS has determined that the commercial ACL
for South Atlantic red snapper will be reached on September 24, 2025.
Accordingly, the commercial sector for South Atlantic red snapper is
closed from September 24, 2025 through the end of 2025. Unless NMFS
specifies otherwise, the commercial season for red snapper in the 2026
fishing year will begin on the second Monday in July [50 CFR
622.183(b)(5)(i)].
The operator of a vessel with a valid commercial vessel permit for
South Atlantic snapper-grouper with red snapper on board must have
landed and bartered, traded, or sold such red snapper prior to
September 24, 2025. Because the harvest of red snapper by the
recreational sector is also closed for the rest of 2025 (90 FR 24527,
June 11, 2025), during this commercial closure, all harvest and
possession of red snapper in or from the South Atlantic EEZ is
prohibited through the end of 2025.
Also during the commercial closure for South Atlantic red snapper,
all sale or purchase of red snapper is prohibited. This prohibition on
the harvest, possession, sale, or purchase applies in the South
Atlantic on a vessel issued a Federal commercial or charter vessel/
headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper, regardless if such
fish were harvested or possessed in state or Federal waters [50 CFR
622.181(c)(2) and 622.193(y)(1)].
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(y)(1), which was
issued pursuant to section 304(c)(7) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice
and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the rule that established the
accountability measure for red snapper has already been subject to
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the
closure. Such procedures are contrary to the public interest because of
the need to immediately implement this action to protect red snapper,
because the capacity of the fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of
the commercial ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment
would require time and could potentially result in a harvest well in
excess of the established commercial ACL.
For the reasons just stated, there is also good cause to waive the
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 19, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18406 Filed 9-19-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 23, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.