Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Establish a Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on the proposed rule to establish a shrimp fishery access area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC).
• The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed this action through Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic and Amendment 12 to the FMP for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• If finalized, the proposed rule would enable a vessel with a valid limited access commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp to bottom trawl for rock shrimp within the designated access area.
• The proposed action is intended to increase access to historic rock shrimp fishing grounds to optimize yield in the rock shrimp fishery, while maintaining protection to deep-water corals in the OHAPC.
• There would be a 350 to 1,580-meter variable buffer zone between the shrimp fishery access area and known coral pinnacles to prevent adverse impacts from trawling.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

• This rule proposes to establish a shrimp fishery access area of 14.10 NM² along the eastern boundary of the northern extension of the OHAPC.

• The OHAPC is approximately 15 nautical miles off Ft. Pierce, Florida, extending toward Cape Canaveral, Florida. The purpose of the OHAPC is to protect deep-water coral habitat, primarily Oculina varicosa (ivory tree coral), from adverse impacts from bottom tending gear.

• In this shrimp fishery access area (see table with coordinates below), a vessel with a valid limited access commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp would be allowed to bottom trawl for rock shrimp. Currently, vessels may not harvest rock shrimp in the proposed area. All other existing restrictions to protect coral within the proposed shrimp fishery access area, including anchoring and use of bottom longline, dredge, pot, or trap, would remain in place.

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

NOAA Fisheries is accepting comments on both the amendment and the proposed rule. The proposed rule comment period is open November 12, 2026, through December 14, 2026. The Notice of Availability for this amendment was published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2026 (91 FR 59098) with the comment period ending on November 17, 2026. All comments received on either document during their respective comment periods will be considered in the final rule.

You may submit comments by electronic submission. 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-2026-1750

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

3. Enter or attach your comments.

More information on Amendment 11 to the FMP for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic and Amendment 12 to the FMP for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region can be found here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/coral-amendment-11-shrimp-amendment-12-establish-shrimp-fishery-access-area .

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Are deep-water corals found in the shrimp fishery access area?

A: Recent mapping and seafloor assessment surveys were conducted to evaluate the proposed shrimp fishery access area. The data revealed soft bottom/flat substrate. Visual surveys indicated no Oculina corals - living, dead or rubble - were present. Another shipboard mapping trip collected data at 2 m resolution showed no evidence of Oculina coral mounds.

Q: What are the exact coordinates of the proposed Shrimp Fishery Access Area?

A: The boundaries of the shrimp fishery access area are defined by the following coordinates:

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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.

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Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

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  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
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  • Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
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Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

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.

Media Contact: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

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