2026-17109: Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; 2026 Commercial Closure for the Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex in the South Atlantic

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 54245-54246] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-17109] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 260505-0124; RTID 0648-XF958] Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; 2026 Commercial Closure for the Scamp and Yellowmouth Grouper Complex in the South Atlantic

Agency

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

Action

Temporary rule; closure. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the commercial harvest of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South Atlantic Federal waters. NMFS projects that commercial landings of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for 2026. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in South Atlantic Federal waters to protect the scamp and yellowmouth grouper resource from overfishing.

Dates

This temporary rule is effective from August 24, 2026, through December 31, 2026.

For Further Information Contact

Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

The snapper-grouper fishery of the South Atlantic includes scamp and yellowmouth grouper and is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NMFS, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and is implemented by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act) by regulations at 50 CFR part 622. All weights in this temporary rule are in round weight. The final rule for Amendment 55 to the FMP was effective on July 6, 2026, and among other measures, created a new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex (91 FR 33661, June 4, 2026). The commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex for the 2026 fishing year is 46,147 pounds (20,932 [[Page 54246]] kilograms) (50 CFR 622.193(i)(1)(i)). This regulation also specifies the commercial in-season accountability measure (AM) for the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex in the South Atlantic. The AM requires NMFS to close the commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex for the rest of the fishing year when commercial landings reach or are projected to reach the commercial ACL. NMFS projects that the commercial ACL will have been reached by [insert date 5 days after date of filing for public inspection with the Office of the Federal Register]. Accordingly, the commercial sector of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex is closed beginning on August 24, 2026, and will remain closed through December 31, 2026, the end of the current fishing year. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of scamp and yellowmouth grouper is prohibited and harvest and possession of scamp and yellowmouth grouper in or from South Atlantic Federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits. These bag and possession limits apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid Federal commercial or charter/vessel headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or Federal waters. Classification NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson- Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(i)(1)(i), which was issued pursuant to section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment are unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. Such procedures are unnecessary because the regulations associated with the commercial closure of the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex have already been subject to notice and public comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of the closure. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action is contrary to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement the commercial closure to protect the scamp and yellowmouth grouper resource in the South Atlantic. The capacity of the commercial fishing fleet allows for rapid harvest of the commercial ACL, and any delay in the closure could result in the exceedance of the applicable ACL. Prior notice and opportunity for public comment would require time and would potentially result in a harvest that exceeds the commercial ACL. For the reasons just stated, NMFS also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effectiveness of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 19, 2026. Shannon Bettridge, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2026-17109 Filed 8-19-26; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P