Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-06421
NMFS Announces 2026 Red Snapper Season Closure and Rockfish Allocations
Buyer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Posted
April 02, 2026
Identifier
2026-06421
This notice from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, announces regulatory actions for the 2026 fishing season in federal waters: - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Department of Commerce - Sub-agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Office: NMFS Southeast Regional Office - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement. - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; the notice establishes fishing season dates and allocations. - Key Regulatory Actions: - Closure of the 2026 recreational for-hire (charter vessel/headboat) red snapper fishing season in the Gulf of America EEZ from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027, to prevent quota exceedance and overfishing. - Establishes a 147-day open season for red snapper (June 1 to October 26, 2026) for federally permitted for-hire vessels. - Sets bag and possession limits for red snapper to zero during the closure period. - Announces 2026 Rockfish Program cooperative allocations for catcher vessel and catcher/processor cooperatives in the Gulf of Alaska, covering species such as Pacific Ocean Perch, Northern Rockfish, Dusky Rockfish, Pacific cod, Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish, and Sablefish. - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Applies only to vessels with valid Federal for-hire permits for Gulf reef fish. - No commercial procurement, equipment, or service acquisition is involved.
Description
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 2026 recreational fishing season for the Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component targeting red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of America. The season opens on June 1, 2026, and closes at 12:01 a.m. local time on October 26, 2026, to prevent exceeding the quota and overfishing. This temporary rule establishes a closure period to manage the fishery sustainably and ensure compliance with the annual catch limits.