Federal Register #2026-16192

NOAA Seeks Input on State-Led Red Snapper Harvest Pilot Projects in the South Atlantic

This opportunity involves the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), seeking public input on pilot projects for recreational red snapper harvest management in the South Atlantic. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Applicants: - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) - Project Scope: - Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) to allow state agencies and recreational fishermen to be exempt from certain federal regulations - Pilot projects to test state-based data collection and management strategies for red snapper - Focus on improving data for fishing effort, catch, and discards - Products/Services Requested: - Implementation of mandatory trip-level reporting - Use of electronic data collection methods - Enforcement and outreach measures - Harvest Limits Requested: - FWC: 185,379 red snapper - GADNR: 10,759 red snapper - SCDNR: 19,253 red snapper - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Mandatory reporting and compliance with state and federal permits - Bag limits and daily harvest restrictions - Projects limited to the 2026 recreational fishing season, with final reports due in early 2027 - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named, as the opportunity centers on regulatory exemptions and pilot data collection strategies.

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has received three applications for exempted fishing permits (EFP) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR), and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). These EFPs would exempt the state agencies and participating fishermen from certain Federal regulations related to the recreational harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic. The permits aim to pilot test state data collection and management strategies during the 2026 recreational fishing season to improve data on fishing effort, catch, and discards, and to inform long-term state-led management strategies. The projects include mandatory reporting, harvest limits, and enforcement measures, with each state proposing specific harvest limits and data collection methods.

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