Rule2025-18694
2025-2026 Recreational Closure for Gulf Greater Amberjack
Primary source
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Published
September 26, 2025
Effective
September 27, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure for recreational greater amberjack in the Gulf of America (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2025-2026 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that for Gulf greater amberjack, the adjusted recreational annual catch target (ACT) for the 2025-2026 fishing year has been exceeded. Therefore, the recreational fishing season for greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will close on September 27, 2025, and the sector will remain closed through, July 31, 2026, the end of the 2025-2026 fishing year. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46357-46358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18694]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 1206013412-2517-02;RTID 0648-XF064]
2025-2026 Recreational Closure for Gulf Greater Amberjack
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS implements an accountability measure for recreational
greater amberjack in the Gulf of America (Gulf) reef fish fishery for
the 2025-2026 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has
determined that for Gulf greater amberjack, the adjusted recreational
annual catch target (ACT) for the 2025-2026 fishing year has been
exceeded. Therefore, the recreational
[[Page 46358]]
fishing season for greater amberjack in the Gulf exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) will close on September 27, 2025, and the sector will remain
closed through, July 31, 2026, the end of the 2025-2026 fishing year.
This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack
resource.
DATES: This rule is effective 12:01 a.m., local time, September 27,
2025, until 12:01 a.m., local time, August 1, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli O'Donnell, NMFS Southeast
Regional Office, 727-824-5305, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7dcd2dbdbde99d8d3d8d9d9d2dbdbf7d9d8d6d699d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d16181111145312191213131811113d13121c1c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the reef fish fishery of the
Gulf, which includes greater amberjack, under the Fishery Management
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP). The Gulf Council
and NMFS prepared the FMP, which was approved by the Secretary of
Commerce, and NMFS implements the FMP under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All greater amberjack
weights discussed in this temporary rule are in round weight.
For Gulf greater amberjack, the recreational annual catch limit
(ACL) and quota (recreational ACT) are 404,000 pounds (lb)(183,251
kilograms (kg)) and 335,320 lb (152,099 kg), respectively (50 CFR
622.41(a)(2)(iii) and 622.39(a)(2)(ii)). The fishing year for the Gulf
greater amberjack recreational sector is August 1 through July 31 (50
CFR 622.7(h)) and recreational fishing for greater amberjack in the
Gulf EEZ is generally allowed September 1 through October 31 each year
(50 CFR 622.24(c)).
The recreational accountability measure (AM) states that when the
recreational ACT is reached, or is projected to be reached, NMFS is
required to close the greater amberjack recreational sector by filing a
notification to that effect with the Office of the Federal Register (50
CFR 622.41(a)(2)(i)). The recreational AM also states that if NMFS
estimates that greater amberjack recreational landings have exceeded
the recreational ACL, then in the following fishing year, the
recreational ACL and recreational ACT will be reduced by the amount of
the recreational ACL overage in the prior fishing year (50 CFR
622.41(a)(2)(ii)).
In the 2024-2025 fishing year, greater amberjack recreational
landings were 882,451 lb (400,273 kg), exceeding the recreational ACL
by 478,451 lb (217,022 kg). Therefore, in accordance with the
recreational AM at 50 CFR 622.41(a)(2)(ii), for the 2025-2026 fishing
year, the recreational ACL of 404,000 lb (183,251 kg) and the
recreational ACT of 335,320 lb (152,099 kg) are reduced by the
recreational ACL overage amount of 478,451 lb (212,022 kg). This
results in an adjusted recreational ACL and ACT of zero for the current
2025-2026 fishing year.
In accordance with the recreational AMs at 50 CFR 622.41(a)(2)(i),
NMFS closes recreational harvest of greater amberjack from the Gulf EEZ
effective 12:01 a.m., local time, September 27, 2025, until 12:01 a.m.,
local time, August 1, 2026, when the next recreational fishing year is
scheduled to begin.
During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits for
greater amberjack in or from the Gulf EEZ are zero. The prohibition on
possession of Gulf greater amberjack also applies in Gulf state waters
for any vessel issued a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit
for Gulf reef fish.
NMFS notes that on September 2, 2025, commercial harvest of Gulf
greater amberjack was closed for the remainder of the current
commercial fishing year of January 1 through December 31, 2025, because
NMFS determined that harvest had exceeded the commercial ACL (90 FR
42138, August 29, 2025).
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.41(a)(1), which was
issued pursuant to section 304(b) 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 is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the
closure of the greater amberjack recreational sector at 50 CFR
622.41(a)(2) have already been subject to notice and public comment,
and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior
notice and opportunity for public comment are contrary to the public
interest because there is a need to immediately implement this action
to protect the greater amberjack stock, which is classified as
overfished and is under a rebuilding plan.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 23, 2025.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18694 Filed 9-24-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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