South Atlantic Council Eyes Space Launches and Fish
Published Date: 6/4/2026
Notice
Summary
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a two-day meeting on June 30 and July 1, 2026, to update rules that protect fish habitats and improve how they manage fish and their food webs. This affects fishermen, coastal communities, and anyone who cares about healthy ocean life. They’ll also talk about new data on space activities near Florida and share updates on projects that help keep fisheries strong and resilient.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.
Habitat Rule Updates Under Consideration
The Council will discuss and recommend revisions to the Council's "Alterations to Riverine, Estuarine and Nearshore Flows Policy" and integration of prey/predator information into the "Food Webs and Connectivity Policy" during the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The notice states these rule updates affect fishermen, coastal communities, and others concerned with ocean health.
Essential Fish Habitat Life-History Updates
The Advisory Panel will discuss life history updates for four fishery management plans' essential fish habitat designations at the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. Changes to habitat designations are presented as items the AP will review and thus are framed as matters that affect fishermen and coastal communities.
Resilient Fisheries Project Updates
The AP will receive an update on the Council's Resilient Fisheries Projects and guidance developed during the Ecosystem Workshop during the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The materials and recommendations are presented as items intended to help keep fisheries strong and resilient, which the notice says affect fishermen and coastal communities.
Inflation Reduction Act Projects' Regional Impacts
The AP will receive an update on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Inflation Reduction Act projects that may have an impact on South Atlantic fisheries during the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The notice frames these IRA projects as potentially affecting South Atlantic fisheries and therefore fishermen and coastal communities.
Space-Activity Data Affecting Florida Habitat
The AP will discuss new data on impacts on habitat from activities related to space exploration off the Florida coast at the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The notice explicitly links those data to potential habitat impacts off Florida and indicates relevance for fishermen and coastal communities.
Offshore Development Updates from BOEM
The AP will receive an update from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on offshore developments, including but not limited to offshore wind, oil and gas exploration, during the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The notice identifies offshore development updates as items relevant to fisheries and coastal communities.
Beneficial Use Site Selection and Habitat Impacts
The AP will receive a summary of Manomet Conservation Science's beneficial use project site selection process and its associated habitat impacts during the June 30–July 1, 2026 meeting. The notice frames the project site selection and habitat impacts as topics relevant to fishery stakeholders.
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.
2026-07536, Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America
Starting April 20, 2026, NOAA is setting new rules for companies doing geophysical surveys in the Gulf of America to protect marine mammals. These rules let companies get permission to accidentally disturb marine mammals but require them to minimize harm and report what they find. This plan lasts five years and helps balance ocean research with saving sea life.
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.
2026-18623, Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From New Jersey to North Carolina
NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of their 2026 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2026 commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-11212, New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The New England Fishery Management Council is holding a 3-day meeting from June 23-25, 2026, to discuss important changes affecting fishing rules in New England waters. Fishermen, businesses, and communities depending on these fisheries should pay attention, as decisions could impact fishing limits and monitoring programs, possibly affecting costs and operations. You can join in person or online to share your thoughts and stay informed.
Next: 2026-11220, Request for Information on Family Friendly Transit
The Federal Transit Administration wants your ideas on making public transit safer, cleaner, easier to use, and more reliable for families. They’re asking transit agencies and the public to help create new ways to measure how family-friendly transit really is. Share your thoughts by August 3, 2026, so they can build better tools and improve transit for everyone, especially families.