Request for Comments: Coral Amendment 11/Shrimp Amendment 12 that Proposes the Establishment of a Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on the proposed establishment of 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 for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic and Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
• In this shrimp fishery access area, a vessel with a valid limited access commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp would be allowed to bottom trawl for rock shrimp.
• 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 sedimentation impacts from trawling.

Summary of Proposed Changes

• Establishment of a 14.10 NM² shrimp fishery access area 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, 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 Amendments:

The comment period for the amendments is open now through November 17, 2026. The comment period on the proposed rule is expected to fall within this same timeframe, and comments on both the amendment and proposed rule will be considered in the final rule. You may submit comments by electronic submission 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/document/NOAA-NMFS-2026-1750-0001

2. Click the "Comment Now!" icon, 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 59098, September 18, 2026

Coral Amendment 11/Shrimp Amendment 12 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/coral-amendment-11-shrimp-amendment-12-establish-shrimp-fishery-access-area .

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 of America Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf of America 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

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