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ISSUE DATE: September 19, 2025
FB25-034
CONTACT: Mary Vara, mary.vara@noaa.gov, Sustainable Fisheries Division (727) 824-5305
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Commercial Closure for Red Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on September 24, 2025
What/When:
- The commercial harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on September 24, 2025.
- The 2026 commercial fishing season for red snapper in the South Atlantic will reopen on Monday July 8, 2026, with a commercial catch limit of 102,951 pounds whole weight, unless otherwise specified in the Federal Register.
Why This Closure Is Happening:
- The 2025 commercial catch limit is 102,951 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings have met the commercial catch limit and needs to close. Regulations implementing the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP) require NOAA Fisheries to close harvest when the commercial catch limit is met or projected to be met.
- NOAA Fisheries published a final rule on June 11, 2025, to implement Amendment 59 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP. The final rule reduced the commercial catch limit from 124,815 (lbs) whole weight (ww) to 102,951 lbs ww, and the recreational catch limit from 29,656 fish to 22,797 fish.
After The Closure:
- The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, regardless of where such fish are harvested or possessed, i.e., in state or federal waters.
- The recreational sector closed July 13, 2025. Therefore, all harvest or possession, and sale or purchase of red snapper in or from South Atlantic federal waters is prohibited effective 12:01 am local time September 24, 2025. The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to red snapper that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before 12:01 am local time September 24, 2025, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR part 622 or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-I/.
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Sign Up for Text Message Alerts
Our Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message and data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include immediate fishery openings and closures and any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly.
Sign up for one or more of the fisheries-related alerts below by texting the following to 888777:
- Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) Recreational: Text GULFRECFISH
- Gulf of America Commercial: Text GULFCOMMFISH
- South Atlantic Recreational: Text SATLRECFISH
- South Atlantic Commercial: Text SATLCOMMFISH
- Caribbean: Text CARIBFISH
Permits Mailbox
The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at (877) 376-4877.
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Other Contacts
Media: Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan (727) 385-5202
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