Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Implement Black Sea Bass Management Measures in the South Atlantic

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• The proposed rule would establish annual catch targets for black sea bass, revise the accountability measures, establish a spawning season closure for both the commercial and recreational sectors during February and March, and reduce the recreational bag limit from seven to three fish per person per day.
• The South Atlantic Council developed Regulatory Amendment 37 to address declining landings and abundance of black sea bass in the South Atlantic while they await additional information to inform the development of longer-term measures.

Comment are due by October 22, 2026.

Summary of Proposed Rule Changes:

Annual Catch Targets and Accountability Measures

• Currently, the South Atlantic black sea bass commercial ACL is 276,490 lb, and the recreational annual catch limit is 366,510 lb. There are no sector annual catch targets currently in place for South Atlantic black sea bass. If implemented, Regulatory Amendment 37 would set a commercial annual catch target of 48,557 (lbs) whole weight (ww) and a recreational annual catch target of 63,143 lbs ww;
• The commercial season would be closed if NOAA Fisheries projects that landings will reach the proposed commercial annual catch target during a fishing year. The post-season accountability measures to reduce the following year's commercial annual catch limit by the amount of any overage would not change;
• NOAA Fisheries would project and announce the recreational season length based on when NOAA Fisheries estimates recreational landings would reach the proposed recreational annual catch target.

Spawning Seasonal Closure

• Regulatory Amendment 37 would establish a seasonal spawning closure for both the commercial and recreational sectors during the months of February and March.

Recreational Bag Limit

• The current recreational bag limit for black sea bass is seven fish per person per day. Regulatory Amendment 37 would reduce the recreational bag limit to three fish per person per day.

Regulatory Amendment 37 can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/regulatory-amendment-37-fishery-management-plan-snapper-grouper-fishery-south-atlantic .

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

The comment period for the proposed rule is open now October 22, 2026. Comments on the proposed rule will be considered in the final rule. You may submit comments by electronic submission via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal described below or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

1. Go to: https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2026-1651-0003

2.Click the "Comment" icon, and then complete the required fields.

3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to:

Mary Vara

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office,

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 91 FR 60076, published September 22, 2026 .

Sign Up for Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Comments sent by any other method (such as postal mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered.

Text alerts you may receive include:

• Immediate fishery openings and closures
• Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly

Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

• Gulf Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
• Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida, now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Contacts:

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Media Contact: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202

Communications Specialist: Lauren Westcott 727-249-5881