Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Increase Catch Limits for Blueline Tilefish in the South Atlantic

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on the proposed rule for Abbreviated Framework Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• The proposed rule would increase catch limits for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic based on the latest population assessment.

Comments are due by August 12, 2026.

Summary of Proposed Rule Changes:

• The proposed rule would increase the total, commercial, and recreational annual catch limits for blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic.
• The total annual catch limit would increase from 233,968 pounds whole weight to 314,058 pounds whole weight.
• The commercial and recreational annual catch limits for blueline tilefish would increase from 117,148 pounds whole weight to 157,249 pounds whole weight and from 116,820 lbs whole weight to 156,809 lbs whole weight, respectively.
• These catch limits are based on the existing sector allocations of 50.07% commercial and 49.93% recreational.
• Current and revised ACLs are not directly comparable because they were derived, in part, using private recreational landings data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey and MRIP Fishing Effort Survey, respectively.

Abbreviated Framework Amendment 5 can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/abbreviated-framework-amendment-5-catch-levels-blueline-tilefish .

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

The comment period for the proposed rule is open now through August 12, 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-2026-0727

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 42908, published July 13, 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