Rule2026-03507
Comprehensive Fishery Management Plans for Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John; Correction
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
February 23, 2026
Effective
February 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS corrects the final rule that implemented management measures described in the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plans (collectively, island-based FMPs), which published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2022. Among other measures, the final rule revised and redesignated the species tables, but inadvertently did not include revisions to the applicable species table references. The purpose of this correcting amendment is to fix these inadvertent errors.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8385-8386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03507]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 260218-0050]
RIN 0648-BD32
Comprehensive Fishery Management Plans for Puerto Rico, St.
Croix, and St. Thomas and St. John; Correction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS corrects the final rule that implemented management
measures described in the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas and
St. John Fishery Management Plans (collectively, island-based FMPs),
which published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2022. Among
other measures, the final rule revised and redesignated the species
tables, but inadvertently did not include revisions to the applicable
species table references. The purpose of this correcting amendment is
to fix these inadvertent errors.
DATES: This correction is effective February 23, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Stephenson, Southeast Regional
Office, NMFS, 727-824-5305, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88fbe9fae9e0a6fbfcedf8e0ede6fbe7e6c8e6e7e9e9a6efe7fe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfccdecdded791cccbdacfd7dad1ccd0d1ffd1d0dede91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 22, 2020, the Secretary of
Commerce approved the island-based FMPs under section 304(a)(3) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). On September 13, 2022, NMFS published a final rule in the
Federal Register (87 FR 56204) to implement management measures in the
island-based FMPs, pursuant to section 304(b)(3) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, which became effective on October 13, 2022. Pursuant to
section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is issuing a
correcting amendment to the final rule.
Correction
The regulatory text of the final rule implementing the island-based
FMPs revised and redesignated the species tables in Appendix A to part
622. The species tables that had been located in Appendix A were moved
to subparts S, T, and U and the table references in Appendix A were
redesignated as follows: Table 1 to Appendix A to part 622 for Gulf
Reef Fish; Table 2 to Appendix A to part 622 for South Atlantic
Snapper-Grouper; and Table 3 to Appendix A to part 622 for Atlantic
Dolphin and Wahoo. The regulatory text inadvertently did not include
the necessary revisions to the corresponding table number in the
definitions of ``Gulf reef fish'' and ``South Atlantic snapper-
grouper'' contained in 50 CFR 622.2. Similarly, the regulatory text
also inadvertently did not include revisions to the corresponding table
number for South Atlantic snapper-grouper contained in 50 CFR
622.287(b)(8) (South Atlantic snapper-grouper bag and possession
limits). Through this correcting amendment, NMFS corrects the
references to the table numbers in each of these three locations to
Table 1 in Appendix A for the definition of Gulf reef fish and Table 2
in Appendix A for the definition of South Atlantic snapper-grouper
contained in 50 CFR 622.2, and Table 2 in Appendix A for the
recreational bag limits for South Atlantic snapper-grouper contained in
50 CFR 622.287(b)(8). The island-based FMPs and the implementing final
rule did not revise regulations for species managed by the Gulf Fishery
Management Council or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Classification
NMFS is issuing this rule pursuant to section 305(d) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Pursuant to section 305(d), this action is
necessary to be consistent with management of the Gulf reef fish
fishery management unit under the FMP for the Reef Fish Resources of
the Gulf and the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery management unit
under the FMP for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
Region and with the final rule for the island-based FMPs. The NMFS
Assistant Administrator (AA) has determined that this final rule is
consistent with the island-based FMPs, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
other applicable law.
This final rule has been determined to be not significant under
Executive Order 12866. This final rule is not an
[[Page 8386]]
Executive Order 14192 regulatory action because this action is not
significant under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS has determined that this action would not have a substantial
direct effect on one or more Indian Tribes, on the relationship between
the Federal Government and Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian
Tribes; therefore, consultation with Tribal officials under Executive
Order 13175 is not required, and the requirements of sections (5)(b)
and (5)(c) of Executive Order 13175 also do not apply. A Tribal summary
impact statement under section (5)(b)(2)(B) and section (5)(c)(2)(B) of
Executive Order 13175 is not required and has not been prepared.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the AA finds good cause to waive
prior notice and opportunity for additional public comment because it
would be unnecessary. This correcting amendment updates references to
species tables in Appendix A to part 622 for both South Atlantic
snapper-grouper and Gulf reef fish that were inadvertently not included
in the final rule for the island-based FMPs. Providing prior notice and
opportunity for public comment is unnecessary because the Caribbean
island-based FMPs did not revise the specific species tables for South
Atlantic snapper-grouper and Gulf reef fish and only changed their
location in the regulations within Appendix A. The regulations that
implemented the species tables for South Atlantic snapper-grouper and
Gulf reef fish have already been subject to notice and public comment.
Providing an additional opportunity for public comment would add
unnecessary delay to the correct certain regulatory citations to these
species tables. Further, retaining the incorrect references to tables
in Appendix A will continue to cause confusion regarding accessing the
applicable regulatory text for South Atlantic snapper-grouper and Gulf
reef fish.
NMFS also finds good cause, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), to
waive the 30-day delay in effective date for this correcting amendment.
It corrects an inadvertent error in the regulatory text by updating the
table number references for ``South Atlantic snapper-grouper'' and
``Gulf reef fish.'' The incorrect references to the applicable species
tables may cause confusion among the public who seek to refer to the
tables after reviewing regulatory text with the Gulf reef fish and
South Atlantic snapper-grouper regulations in 50 CFR 622.2 and
622.287(b)(8). This rule does not revise the species tables, or impose
a new burden or change policy. For these reasons, there is good cause
to waive the 30-day delay in effective date for this final rule.
Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601
et seq., are inapplicable. Accordingly, no Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis is required and none has been prepared.
This final rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 622
Caribbean, Commercial, Fisheries, Fishing, Recreational.
Dated: February 19, 2026.
Sarah Malloy,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
Accordingly, 50 CFR part 622 is corrected by making the following
correcting amendments:
PART 622--FISHERIES OF THE CARIBBEAN, GULF OF AMERICA, AND SOUTH
ATLANTIC
0
1. The authority citation for part 622 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
0
2. In Sec. 622.2, revise the definition of ``Gulf reef fish'' and
``South Atlantic snapper-grouper'' to read as follows:
Sec. 622.2 Definitions and acronyms.
* * * * *
Gulf reef fish means one or more of the species, or a part thereof,
listed in table 1 in appendix A of this part.
* * * * *
South Atlantic snapper-grouper means one or more of the species, or
a part thereof, listed in table 2 in appendix A of this part.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec. 622.187, revise paragraph (b)(8) to read as follows:
Sec. 622.187 Bag and possession limits.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(8) South Atlantic snapper-grouper (whitebone porgy, jolthead
porgy, knobbed porgy, saucereye porgy, scup, almaco jack, banded
rudderfish, lesser amberjack, white grunt, margate, sailor's choice,
Atlantic spadefish, gray triggerfish, bar jack), combined--20. However,
excluded from this 20-fish bag limit are tomtate, South Atlantic
snapper-grouper ecosystem component species (specified in table 2 of
appendix A of this part), and those specified in paragraphs (b)(1)
through (7) and paragraphs (b)(9) and (10) of this section. Within the
20-fish bag limit, no more than 10 fish can be of any one of these
single snapper-grouper species.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2026-03507 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
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 February 23, 2026.
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.