Shrimpers Eye Ban Lift Near Sacred Coral Bank: Trawls vs. Reefs?
Published Date: 9/18/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council wants to open a new shrimp fishing area near the Oculina Bank coral habitat where rock shrimp trawling is now banned. This change aims to bring back historic shrimp fishing spots while protecting deep-water corals. Shrimp fishers and coral conservationists should weigh in by November 17, 2026, as this could impact fishing access and the environment.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Reopens Historic Rock Shrimp Grounds
The rule would create a 14.10 square nautical mile shrimp fishery access area (SFAA) inside the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern where rock shrimp trawling is currently banned. If approved, only vessels with a valid Federal limited-access commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic rock shrimp could bottom trawl for rock shrimp in that SFAA.
Surveys and Bycatch Analysis Support Opening
Amendments 11/12 rely on new science: a 2022 visual towed-camera survey found no live, dead, or rubble Oculina coral in the proposed SFAA, and April 2025 high-resolution mapping shows low-relief sandy and muddy bottoms. A bycatch practicability analysis using 2018–2022 observer data found bycatch is mainly non-managed invertebrates, negligible snapper-grouper occurrence, and that Turtle Excluder Devices and Bycatch Reduction Devices help minimize bycatch mortality; the proposed SFAA sits about 360 to 1,580 meters from known coral pinnacles.
VMS, Transit, and Gear Rules Stay in Place
Current monitoring and transit rules would remain unchanged: vessels with a rock shrimp limited-access endorsement must use an NMFS-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) and maintain a transmission rate of one position per 5 minutes when transiting or fishing in the area. Transit must be direct and non-stop at a minimum speed of 5 knots, and fishing gear must be appropriately stowed (doors and nets out of the water) during transit.
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