Short title

This Act may be cited as the

South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act of 2026

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)South Atlantic red snapper is a healthy public fishery resource that supports recreational anglers, for-hire operators, coastal communities, fishing tackle retailers, marinas, restaurants, lodging providers, and other businesses throughout the South Atlantic region. (2)In recent years, recreational harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters has been limited to extremely short seasons, including one- and two-day seasons, despite historic abundance and strong public demand for access to the fishery. (3)Conversely, commercial harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters has remained open for substantially longer periods, including commercial seasons that have lasted for weeks or months in recent years. (4)Leading up to the 2026 recreational fishing season, the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, working with the National Marine Fisheries Service, developed and received approval for State-led exempted fishing permit pilot programs designed to improve recreational fisheries data collection, test State management strategies, reduce uncertainty, and provide more reasonable recreational access to South Atlantic red snapper. (5)Those State-led pilot programs were halted by a preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, blocking the approved 2026 pilot seasons for the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, including Florida’s season just hours before it was scheduled to begin. (6)While anglers continue to sit at the dock awaiting a management system that allows reasonable access to a healthy public fishery resource, conservation burdens and access restrictions should be shared fairly across sectors.

Prohibition on certain commercial activities with respect to certain South Atlantic red snapper during certain periods

(a)

In general

It is unlawful for any person, for commercial purposes— (1)to harvest any South Atlantic red snapper from Federal waters during a covered period; or (2)to sell, purchase, trade, barter, or offer for sale any South Atlantic red snapper harvested from Federal waters during a covered period. (b)

Penalties

(1)

In general

An act described in subsection (a) shall be treated as an act described in section 307 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857) for purposes of sections 308 through 311 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1858–1860). (2)

Enforcement

The Secretary shall enforce this section as if a violation of subsection (a) were a violation of section 307 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857). (c)

Implementation

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (d)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Covered period

The term covered period means a period during which the recreational harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters is prohibited. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service. (3)

South Atlantic red snapper

The term South Atlantic red snapper means red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) subject to management under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region published by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.