Rule2026-11017
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2026 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Snowy Grouper in the South Atlantic
Primary source
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Published
June 2, 2026
Effective
June 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) and closure for the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS reduces the length of the snowy grouper 2026 recreational fishing season to prevent landings from exceeding the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) in 2026 as they did in 2025. Accordingly, NMFS announces the adjusted closure date for the snowy grouper 2026 recreational fishing season in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the snowy grouper resource.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32906-32907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11017]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 622
[Docket No. 231127-0277; RTID 0648-XF681]
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2026 Recreational Accountability
Measure and Closure for Snowy Grouper in the South Atlantic
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) and closure for
the recreational harvest of snowy grouper in South Atlantic Federal
waters. NMFS reduces the length of the snowy grouper 2026 recreational
fishing season to prevent landings from exceeding the recreational
annual catch limit (ACL) in 2026 as they did in 2025. Accordingly, NMFS
announces the adjusted closure date for the snowy grouper 2026
recreational fishing season in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect
the snowy grouper resource.
DATES: The closure is effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 7,
2026, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2027.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional
Office, 727-824-5305, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0dbd1c2dcd19ed7dfc2d5f0dedfd1d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8b3b9aab4b9f6bfb7aabd98b6b7b9b9f6bfb7ae">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
Atlantic includes snowy grouper 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, was approved by the Secretary of Commerce,
and is implemented by NMFS through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
For snowy grouper, the recreational ACL is 1,713 fish (50 CFR
622.193(b)(2)(i)). The snowy grouper recreational AM states that if
recreational landings exceed the recreational ACL, then during the
following fishing year, NMFS will reduce the length of the recreational
fishing season to prevent recreational landings from exceeding the
recreational ACL (50 CFR 622.193(b)(2)(ii)). Preliminary 2025 landings
information shows that snowy grouper recreational landings were 1,957
fish, exceeding the recreational ACL by 244 fish. Therefore, consistent
with the recreational AM, NMFS is reducing the length of the 2026
recreational fishing season to prevent the recreational ACL from being
exceeded.
The fishing year for snowy grouper is from January 1 through
December 31, annually (50 CFR 622.7). However, the recreational sector
for snowy grouper is closed annually from January 1 through April 30,
and from July 1 through December 31 (50 CFR 622.183(b)(8)). Data from
the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center have informed NMFS' 2026
season length projection that recreational landings will reach the
recreational ACL by June 7, 2026. Therefore, NMFS announces that the
snowy grouper recreational sector in South Atlantic Federal waters will
close at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 7, 2026, until 12:01 a.m., local
time, on January 1, 2027. During the recreational closure, the bag and
possession limits for snowy grouper in or from South Atlantic Federal
waters are zero. The next recreational fishing season for snowy grouper
begins on May 1, 2027.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(c)(2)(ii), which
was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and
is exempt
[[Page 32907]]
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
recreational AM for snowy grouper has already been subject to public
notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the
end date of the recreational season. Prior notice and opportunity for
public comment on this action is contrary to the public interest
because of the need to protect the South Atlantic snowy grouper
resource. Additionally, announcing the closure date as soon as possible
allows recreational sector participants and businesses to better plan
their activities to harvest snowy grouper.
For the reasons just stated, there is good cause under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this
action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 29, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-11017 Filed 5-29-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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