Rule2026-10042
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2026 Recreational Fishing Season Announcement for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic
Primary source
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Published
May 19, 2026
Effective
May 19, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces the 2026 recreational fishing season for blueline tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. Announcing the length of the recreational fishing season is the accountability measure (AM) for the recreational sector. For the 2026 fishing year, NMFS estimates that recreational landings of blueline tilefish will not reach the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and therefore not close prior to the recreational fixed seasonal closure that begins on September 1, 2026. NMFS announces the season length for the recreational harvest of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic to allow recreational fishermen to maximize their fishing opportunities while NMFS manages recreational harvest to protect the blueline tilefish resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29091-29092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10042]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 231101-0256; RTID 0648-XF665]
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2026 Recreational Fishing Season
Announcement for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; recreational fishing season.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the 2026 recreational fishing season for
blueline tilefish in South Atlantic Federal waters. Announcing the
length of the recreational fishing season is the accountability measure
(AM) for the recreational sector. For the 2026 fishing year, NMFS
estimates that recreational landings of blueline tilefish will not
reach the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and therefore not close
prior to the recreational fixed seasonal closure that begins on
September 1, 2026. NMFS announces the season length for the
recreational harvest of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic to
allow recreational fishermen to maximize their fishing opportunities
while NMFS manages recreational harvest to protect the blueline
tilefish resource.
DATES: This rule is effective from May 19, 2026 through December 31,
2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Vara, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, 727-824-5305, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e78a86959ec991869586a789888686c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98f5f9eae1b6eef9eaf9d8f6f7f9f9b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes blueline tilefish 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, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and
is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) by
regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(z)(2) specify the recreational ACL
for blueline
[[Page 29092]]
tilefish of 116,820 pounds or 52,989 kilograms, round weight, and the
recreational AM. The recreational AM states that NMFS will project the
length of the recreational fishing season for blueline tilefish based
on catch rates from the previous fishing year and announce the end date
of the recreational fishing season based on when NMFS projects the
recreational ACL will be met. The fishing year for blueline tilefish is
from January 1 through December 31, annually (50 CFR 622.7). However,
the recreational sector for blueline tilefish is closed annually from
January 1 through April 30, and from September 1 through December 31
(50 CFR 622.183(b)(7)). Data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science
Center informed NMFS' 2026 season length projection that recreational
landings of blueline tilefish will not reach the recreational ACL
during the 2026 fishing year. In 2026, there will not be an in-season
closure based on the recreational AM being triggered during the open
fishing season and the sector will remain open from May 1 through
August 30. The recreational sector will then close as scheduled on
September 1, 2026, in accordance with the annual closure period of
September 1 through December 31 (50 CFR 622.183(b)(7)).
During the recreational closure, the bag and possession limits for
blueline tilefish in or from South Atlantic Federal waters are zero.
The next recreational fishing season for blueline tilefish begins on
May 1, 2027.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 15, 2026.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10042 Filed 5-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 19, 2026.
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