Request for Comments: Coral Amendment 11/Shrimp Amendment 12 that Proposes the Establishment of a Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern
Key Message:
- NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on the proposed establishment of a shrimp fishery access area in the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC).
- The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed this action through Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats of the South Atlantic and Amendment 12 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region.
- In this shrimp fishery access area, a vessel with a valid limited access commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp would be allowed to bottom trawl for rock shrimp.
- The proposed action is intended to increase access to historic rock shrimp fishing grounds to optimize yield in the rock shrimp fishery, while maintaining protection to deep-water corals in the OHAPC.
- There would be a 350 to 1,580-meter variable buffer zone between the shrimp fishery access area and known coral pinnacles to prevent sedimentation impacts from trawling.
Summary of Proposed Changes:
- Establishment of a 14.10 NM2 shrimp fishery access area along the eastern boundary of the northern extension of the OHAPC.
- The OHAPC is approximately 15 nautical miles off Ft. Pierce, Florida, extending toward Cape Canaveral, Florida. The purpose of the OHAPC is to protect deep-water coral habitat, primarily Oculina varicosa (ivory tree coral), from adverse impacts from bottom tending gear.
- In this shrimp fishery access area, a vessel with a valid limited access commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp would be allowed to bottom trawl for rock shrimp. Currently, vessels may not harvest rock shrimp in the proposed area. All other existing restrictions to protect coral within the proposed shrimp fishery access area, including anchoring and use of bottom longline, dredge, pot, or trap, would remain in place.
Coral Amendment 11/Shrimp Amendment 12 may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/coral-amendment-11-shrimp-amendment-12-establish-shrimp-fishery-access-area.
How to Comment on the Amendments:
The comment period for the amendments is open now through November 17, 2026. The comment period on the proposed rule is expected to fall within this same timeframe, and comments on both the amendment and proposed rule will be considered in the final rule. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
- Go to: https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2026-1750-0001
- Click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields.
- Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to:
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office,
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 91 FR 59098, September 18, 2026
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