Fisheries Management – South Atlantic

Current understanding

To be populated as evidence accumulates.

Evidence log

• 2026-08-21 — Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; 2026 Commercial Closure for the Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex in the South Atlantic: NMFS issued an in-season commercial closure of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South Atlantic federal waters for the remainder of 2026 because the annual catch limit is projected to be reached; routine accountability measure under the Snapper-Grouper FMP (implementing the new complex established by Amendment 55) with no change to underlying policy. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-08-21 — Fisheries of the South Atlantic; 2026 Commercial Closure of Red Snapper in the South Atlantic: NMFS issued an in-season commercial closure of red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ for the remainder of 2026 because the annual commercial catch limit is projected to be reached; routine accountability measure under the Snapper-Grouper FMP with no change to underlying policy. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-08-24 — Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf and Atlantic Region; Commercial Closure for Atlantic Spanish Mackerel in the Northern Zone: NMFS issued an in-season commercial closure for Atlantic Spanish mackerel in the northern Atlantic zone (a Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP action jointly managed with the South Atlantic Council) because the 2026–2027 quota is projected to be reached; routine accountability measure with no change to underlying policy. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-29 — FISH Act of 2026: HR9507 (FISH Act of 2026) was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Committees on Natural Resources, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Transportation and Infrastructure; bill text and substantive fisheries provisions are not yet available for evaluation. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-27 — Bycatch Reduction Act: HR9953 (Bycatch Reduction Act) was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources; no bill text or specific South Atlantic provisions have been evaluated yet, but bycatch measures would apply to South Atlantic fisheries if enacted. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-22 — Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of America and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 14: NMFS proposed Framework Amendment 14 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP (jointly managed with the South Atlantic Council); the substantive changes — revised Gulf Spanish mackerel ACL and a switch from in-season closure to post-season accountability measure — apply to the Gulf zone, with no direct change to South Atlantic CMP measures. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-08 — Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 4: NMFS proposed Amendment 4 to the Puerto Rico FMP to reclassify rainbow runner from reef fish to pelagic fish with corresponding sector ACTs and accountability measures; published under the standard Caribbean/Gulf/South Atlantic regional docket, but the primary management page is Caribbean (Puerto Rico FMP). (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-07 — Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North Atlantic Swordfish, South Atlantic Swordfish, North Atlantic Albacore, and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quotas: NMFS proposed rule implementing 2025 ICCAT recommendations codifies management procedures for South Atlantic swordfish (no baseline quota change) alongside bluefin tuna, North Atlantic swordfish, and northern albacore adjustments — primary management page is Atlantic HMS. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-20 — Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Prohibit Retention of Mobulid Rays in Fisheries for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species: NMFS finalized a rule prohibiting retention of mobulid rays in Atlantic HMS fisheries and requiring unharmed release, implementing ICCAT Recommendation 24-12; this applies to Atlantic HMS permit holders whose activity overlaps South Atlantic waters, though the primary management page is Atlantic HMS. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-03 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025: HR2406 (NOAA Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025) would extend NOAA harassment/assault prevention policies, reporting, and restricted-reporting systems to at-sea observers, monitors, and fishery council staff — personnel categories that support South Atlantic fishery management operations. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-26 — Electronic Logbook Reporting in Commercial Fisheries of the Gulf of America and Atlantic: NMFS proposed rule would require federally permitted commercial fishermen in the South Atlantic (along with the Gulf of America and Atlantic) to submit logbooks electronically rather than on paper, aiming to improve data accuracy and efficiency. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-04 — Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Amendment 55: Final rule (Amendment 55 to Snapper-Grouper FMP) separates yellowmouth grouper from the shallow water grouper complex and establishes a new scamp/yellowmouth grouper complex with updated ACLs, sector allocations, and a stock rebuilding plan. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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