Gulf Fishery Council Wants Your Fishy Opinions in January!
Published Date: 12/29/2025
Notice
Summary
The Gulf Fishery Management Council is hosting three in-person meetings and one online webinar in January 2026 to hear your thoughts on new rules for Shallow-water Grouper fishing. If you fish, sell, or care about Gulf fish, this is your chance to speak up before decisions are made. Make sure to join by January 20 to send in your comments and help shape the future of fishing in the Gulf!
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Document
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-17346, New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Scallop Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
2026-17391, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project in Washington
NMFS, upon request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issues this final rule pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the Duckabush Estuary Restoration Project (DERP) in Hood Canal, Washington over 5 years (2027-2032). This final rule, which allows for the issuance of a 5-year letter of authorization (LOA) allowing for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and timeframes, prescribes the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species and their habitat, and establishes requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-23778, Notice of OFAC Sanctions Actions
The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC just blocked the property of two Venezuelan individuals linked to corruption and shady deals with the Venezuelan government. From December 19, 2025, Americans can’t do business with them, and any U.S.-based assets they have are frozen. This move tightens the squeeze on bad actors and sends a clear message about cracking down on corruption.
Next: 2025-23780, Paper File Folders From the Kingdom of Cambodia: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
The U.S. Department of Commerce found that paper file folder makers in Cambodia got unfair government help, so they’re adding extra taxes (called countervailing duties) on these imports starting December 29, 2025. This affects Cambodian exporters and U.S. buyers, making Cambodian folders more expensive to keep trade fair. Deadlines were pushed back due to a government shutdown, but the new rules kick in right away.