    [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 14651-14652]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2026-05873]

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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    50 CFR Part 622

    [Docket No. 231101-0256]
    RTID 0648-XF558

    Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 2026 Recreational
    Season Announcement and Closure Date for Golden Tilefish in the South
    Atlantic

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

    ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.

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    SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure date of the 2026 recreational
    fishing season for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
    of the South Atlantic. The 2026 recreational fishing season for golden
    tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ is closed starting on March 27,
    2026. This closure is necessary to prevent recreational landings of
    golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ from exceeding the
    recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and to protect the golden
    tilefish resource from overfishing.

    DATES: This closure is effective from March 27 through December 31,
    2026.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, NMFS Southeast Regional
    Office, telephone: 727-824-5305, email: karla.gore@noaa.gov.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The snapper-grouper fishery of the South
    Atlantic includes golden tilefish and is managed under the Fishery
    Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
    Region (FMP). The FMP was prepared by NMFS and the South Atlantic
    Fishery Management Council, 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.
        Regulations at 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2) specify the 2026 recreational
    ACL for golden tilefish at 2,741 fish and the recreational AMs. The
    recreational AMs state, in part, that NMFS will project the length of
    the recreational fishing season for golden tilefish based on catch
    rates from the previous fishing year and annually announce the end date
    of the recreational season [50 CFR 622.193(a)(2)]. The fishing year and
    season for recreational harvest of golden tilefish started on January
    1, 2026. Data from the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center informed
    NMFS' projection that recreational landings will reach the recreational
    ACL for 2026 by March 27. Therefore, NMFS announces that the last day
    of the recreational season for golden tilefish is March 26, 2026. The
    2026 recreational fishing season for golden tilefish in the South
    Atlantic EEZ is closed starting on March 27, 2026, and continues to be
    closed through the end of the calendar year. During the recreational
    closure, the bag and possession limits for golden tilefish in or from
    the South Atlantic EEZ are zero. The next recreational fishing season
    for golden tilefish begins on January 1, 2027.

    Classification

        NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-
    Stevens Act. This action is required by 50 CFR 622.193(a)(2), 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 rule that established the
    recreational ACL and AMs for golden tilefish has already been subject
    to notice and comment, and all that remains is to notify the public of
    the end date of the recreational season. Such procedures are contrary
    to the public interest because of the need to immediately implement
    this action to prevent overfishing of the golden tilefish stock. The
    recreational ACL will soon be reached and prior notice and opportunity
    for public comment would require additional time, potentially resulting
    in a harvest well in excess of the established ACL.

    [[Page 14652]]

        For the reasons just stated, there is also 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: March 23, 2026.
    David R. Blankinship,
    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 2026-05873 Filed 3-24-26; 4:15 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P