# 2025-00552: Government Creates Special Season to Stop Fish Waste Problem

2025-00552, Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Amendment 59, is a Federal Register proposed rule from an unnamed agency published 2025-01-14, effective Changes take effect in phases: the recreational season start date change to the second Saturday in July would begin in the 2025-2026 fishing year (starting in 2025); the recreational season would begin on the second Saturday in June beginning in the 2026-2027 fishing year (2026). The commercial season start change to May 1 would begin with the 2026-2027 fishing year (May 1, 2026). The fishing year would be revised to May 1 through April 30 annually.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00552
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-00552
- Title: Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Amendment 59
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: unknown
- Citation: unknown
- Published: 2025-01-14
- Effective: Changes take effect in phases: the recreational season start date change to the second Saturday in July would begin in the 2025-2026 fishing year (starting in 2025); the recreational season would begin on the second Saturday in June beginning in the 2026-2027 fishing year (2026). The commercial season start change to May 1 would begin with the 2026-2027 fishing year (May 1, 2026). The fishing year would be revised to May 1 through April 30 annually.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Government Creates Special Season to Stop Fish Waste Problem

## Summary

Amendment 59 aims to protect South Atlantic red snapper by changing fishing limits, seasons, and trip rules for both commercial and recreational fishers. It also introduces a new discard reduction season to cut down on wasted fish. These changes could start soon if approved, helping keep red snapper populations healthy while still letting people enjoy fishing.

## Abstract

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (Snapper-Grouper FMP) (Amendment 59). If approved, Amendment 59 and this proposed rule would, for South Atlantic red snapper: revise the fishing mortality (F) at maximum sustainable yield (MSY) proxy for determining overfishing, acceptable biological catch (ABC), sector annual catch limits (ACLs), fishing year, sector fishing season start dates, recreational fishing season structure, commercial trip limits, and establish an annual experimental studies program. Additionally, Amendment 59 and this proposed rule would establish a snapper-grouper discard reduction season in South Atlantic Federal waters. This action is intended to end and prevent overfishing of red snapper while reducing dead discards and providing additional fishing opportunities.

## Effects PRIA read

- Big Increase in Red Snapper ACLs: benefit, high. The total Atlantic South red snapper annual catch limit (ACL) would increase from 42,510 fish to 500,000 fish. Using the existing sector split (28.07% commercial, 71.93% recreational), the commercial ACL becomes 346,000 lb (156,943 kg) and the recreational ACL becomes 85,000 fish.
- Commercial Trip Limit Doubles: benefit, medium. The commercial trip limit for red snapper would increase from 75 lb (34 kg), gutted weight, to 150 lb (68 kg), gutted weight during a commercial fishing season. NMFS expects this, along with the higher commercial ACL, to increase economic efficiency and could increase per-business revenue.
- Commercial Season Starts May 1: benefit, medium. Beginning with the 2026-2027 fishing year, the commercial red snapper season would open annually on May 1 instead of the second Monday in July. For the 2025-2026 fishing year, the commercial start date would remain the same as current practice.
- Weekend-Only Recreational Season Changes: benefit, medium. For 2025-2026 the recreational red snapper season would start on the second Saturday in July and consist of Saturdays and Sundays only. Beginning in the 2026-2027 fishing year, the recreational season would begin on the second Saturday in June and consist of Saturdays and Sundays only; the bag limi…
- Discard Reduction Seasonal Closure (Dec–Feb): mixed, medium. Annually from December 1 through the end of February, private recreational and for-hire vessels would be prohibited from fishing for, harvesting, or possessing any snapper-grouper species with hook-and-line gear in a South Atlantic EEZ area between 28°00.0' N and the Florida/Georgia border (30°42.0…
- Fishing Year Shift to May 1–April 30: mixed, low. The fishing year for South Atlantic red snapper would change from January 1–December 31 to May 1–April 30 annually. This aligns catch accounting with the proposed May 1 commercial season opening and other management measures.
- New FMSY Proxy and Higher OFL/ABC: benefit, medium. Amendment 59 would adopt F2021-2023 as the FMSY proxy and set the overfishing limit (OFL) at 551,000 fish and the acceptable biological catch (ABC) at 509,000 fish (92% of OFL). NMFS states this proxy would be used until the next assessment in 2028.

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## Sources
- [2025-00552 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/14/2025-00552/fisheries-of-the-caribbean-gulf-of-mexico-and-south-atlantic-snapper-grouper-fishery-of-the-south)
- [2025-00552 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-14/pdf/2025-00552.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-00551, Entry of Low-Value Shipments](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00551)
- [Next: 2025-00588, Airworthiness Directives; Siam Hiller Holdings, Inc, Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00588)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00552 (as of 2026-06-11).