Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; 2026 Commercial Closure for the Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex in the South Atlantic

Issuing agencies

Abstract

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the commercial harvest of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS projects that commercial landings of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for 2026. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the scamp and yellowmouth grouper resource from overfishing.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54245-54246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17109]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[Docket No. 260505-0124; RTID 0648-XF958]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; 
2026 Commercial Closure for the Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex 
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) for the 
commercial harvest of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in 
South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS projects that commercial landings 
of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex will reach the commercial 
annual catch limit (ACL) for 2026. Therefore, NMFS closes the 
commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South 
Atlantic Federal waters to protect the scamp and yellowmouth grouper 
resource from overfishing.

DATES: This temporary rule is effective from August 24, 2026, through 
December 31, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional 
Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#365d57445a571851594453765859575718515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f893998a9499d69f978a9db896979999d69f978e">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South 
Atlantic includes scamp and yellowmouth 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, 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. All weights in this 
temporary rule are in round weight.
    The final rule for Amendment 55 to the FMP was effective on July 6, 
2026, and among other measures, created a new scamp and yellowmouth 
grouper complex (91 FR 33661, June 4, 2026). The commercial annual 
catch limit (ACL) for the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex for the 
2026 fishing year is 46,147 pounds (20,932

[[Page 54246]]

kilograms) (50 CFR 622.193(i)(1)(i)). This regulation also specifies 
the commercial in-season accountability measure (AM) for the scamp and 
yellowmouth grouper complex in the South Atlantic. The AM requires NMFS 
to close the commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper 
complex for the rest of the fishing year when commercial landings reach 
or are projected to reach the commercial ACL. NMFS projects that the 
commercial ACL will have been reached by [insert date 5 days after date 
of filing for public inspection with the Office of the Federal 
Register]. Accordingly, the commercial sector of the scamp and 
yellowmouth grouper complex is closed beginning on August 24, 2026, and 
will remain closed through December 31, 2026, the end of the current 
fishing year.
    During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of scamp and 
yellowmouth grouper is prohibited and harvest and possession of scamp 
and yellowmouth grouper in or from South Atlantic Federal waters is 
limited to the recreational bag and possession limits. These bag and 
possession limits apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for 
which a valid Federal commercial or charter/vessel headboat permit for 
South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where 
such species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters.

Classification

    NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(i)(1)(i), 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 regulations associated with the 
commercial closure of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex 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 on this action is contrary to the public interest 
because of the need to immediately implement the commercial closure to 
protect the scamp and yellowmouth grouper resource in the South 
Atlantic. The capacity of the commercial fishing fleet allows for rapid 
harvest of the commercial ACL, and any delay in the closure could 
result in the exceedance of the applicable ACL. Prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially 
result in a harvest that exceeds the commercial ACL.
    For the reasons just stated, NMFS also finds good cause to waive 
the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 19, 2026.
Shannon Bettridge,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-17109 Filed 8-19-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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