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

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 36 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• The proposed rule would revise the gag and black grouper vessel limits for private recreational and for-hire vessels to aid in rebuilding the South Atlantic gag stock.
• The proposed rule would also modify the stowage requirements for on-demand, also known as ropeless, black sea bass pots while transiting marine protected areas and spawning special management zones with snapper-grouper species onboard. The proposed change would better accommodate commercial fishermen using the on-demand gear while maintaining appropriate protections to marine mammals and the snapper-grouper fishery.

Summary of Proposed Rule Changes:

• Currently, there is a private recreational vessel limit for gag of two fish per vessel per day and a private recreational vessel limit for black grouper of two fish per vessel per day. There is a for-hire recreational vessel limit for gag of two fish per vessel per trip and a for-hire recreational vessel limit for black grouper of two fish per vessel per trip. The proposed rule would replace these vessel limits with an aggregate vessel limit of two gag or black grouper in any combination (per day for private recreational and per trip for for-hire). The recreational bag limit of one gag or black grouper per person per day for private and for-hire recreational vessels would not change.
• Currently, commercial fishermen may possess snapper-grouper species while in transit through a marine protected area or spawning special management zone with fishing gear appropriately stowed. In the context of black sea bass pots, fishing gear appropriately stowed means black sea bass pots are not connected to any buoys and are not baited. The proposed rule would allow buoys to remain connected to on-demand black sea bass pots that are not baited. On-demand types of sea bass pot gear differ from roped gear by storing buoys and their retrieval devices at depth, only being deployed into the water column when fishermen are present to retrieve the gear. On-demand black sea bass pot fishermen have stated that buoys are more difficult to disconnect from on-demand gear than from traditional, roped gear.

Regulatory Amendment 36 can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/regulatory-amendment-36-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 May 26, 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/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-0339

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

3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to:

NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office,

Sustainable Fisheries Division

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 91 FR 21775 , published April 23, 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
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Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

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  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
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• 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