Rule2026-10200
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; 2026 Recreational Season Announcement and Harvest Closure for Gag
Primary source
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Published
May 21, 2026
Effective
December 31, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational harvest of gag in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of America (Gulf) for the 2026 fishing year. The recreational fishing season for Gulf gag opens on September 1, and NMFS has projected that recreational landings of gag will reach the annual catch target (ACT) by October 1. Therefore, recreational fishing for gag in the Gulf EEZ will be open from September 1 through September 30 and will close on October 1, 2026. The recreational harvest of Gulf gag will remain closed through the end of the fishing year on December 31, 2026. NMFS implements this recreational AM to protect the gag resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29920-29921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10200]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 240506-0129; RTID 0648-XF790]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic;
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; 2026 Recreational Season
Announcement and Harvest Closure for Gag
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 (AM) for the
recreational harvest of gag in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
Gulf of America (Gulf) for the 2026 fishing year. The recreational
fishing season for Gulf gag opens on September 1, and NMFS has
projected that recreational landings of gag will reach the annual catch
target (ACT) by October 1. Therefore, recreational fishing for gag in
the Gulf EEZ will be open from September 1 through September 30 and
will close on October 1, 2026. The recreational harvest of Gulf gag
will remain closed through the end of the fishing year on December 31,
2026. NMFS implements this recreational AM to protect the gag resource.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from October 1 through December
31, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Luers, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#563237383f333a783a23332425163839373778313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="660207080f030a480a13031415260809070748010910">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the Gulf reef fish fishery that
includes gag under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish
Resources of the Gulf (FMP). The Gulf Council (Council) prepared the
FMP, and NMFS implements the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)
through regulations at 50 CFR part 622.
All weights described in this temporary rule are in gutted weight.
The metric conversion for the imperial measurement used in this
document is 1 pound (lb) equals approximately 0.45 kilograms.
On June 1, 2024, NMFS implemented the final rule for Amendment 56
to the FMP that modified management of gag
[[Page 29921]]
in the Gulf EEZ (89 FR 40419, May 10, 2024). The final rule revised the
commercial and recreational catch levels, recreational AMs, and
recreational fishing season. For the recreational sector in 2026, the
annual catch limit (ACL) is 499,000 lb, and the ACT is 399,000 lb
(table 2 in 50 CFR 622.41(d)(2)(i)). The recreational AM for gag states
that if NMFS projects that recreational landings will reach the
applicable recreational ACT during a fishing year, then NMFS will close
the recreational sector for the remainder of the fishing year (50 CFR
622.41(d)(2)(ii)). Recreational harvest of gag is prohibited each year
from January 1 through August 31 (50 CFR 622.34(e)).
The recreational fishing season for gag opens each year on
September 1. Based on a review of recreational landings data from 2023
through 2025, NMFS projects that recreational landings will reach the
recreational ACT for gag on October 1, 2026. Thus, in accordance with
50 CFR 622.41(d)(2)(ii), the recreational fishing season for gag will
close on October 1, 2026. NMFS implements this AM to reduce the chance
of exceeding the recreational ACL and ACT, while allowing recreational
fishermen the opportunity to harvest the gag ACT. During the closure
from October 1 through December 31, 2026, the recreational bag and
possession limits for gag harvested in or from the Gulf EEZ are zero.
The possession of gag is also prohibited in state waters of the Gulf
for any vessel issued a valid Federal charter vessel/headboat permit
for Gulf reef fish.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.41(d)(2)(ii), 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 are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such
procedures are unnecessary because the regulation associated with the
closure of recreational harvest of gag at 50 CFR 622.41(d)(2)(ii) has
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 such
procedures would require time and those affected by the length of the
recreational fishing seasons, particularly for-hire operations that
reserve trips for clients in advance, need as much notice as NMFS is
able to provide to adjust their business plans to account for changes
to the recreational fishing season.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 19, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10200 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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