Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hardbottom Habitats of the South Atlantic and the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Amendments 11/12

What it does

• •Proposes establishing a Shrimp Fishery Access Area (SFAA) along the eastern boundary of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (OHAPC) to permit rock shrimp trawling in a historically fished area currently closed to such activity
• •Amends both the Coral Fishery Management Plan (Coral FMP) and Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (Shrimp FMP) to address coral protection requirements and optimize rock shrimp yield while minimizing habitat damage
• •Incorporates updated scientific data and analysis, including vessel monitoring system requirements and spatial restrictions, to balance fishery access with protection of deep-water coral ecosystems

Why it matters

• •The rock shrimp fishery has been operating well below optimum yield and maximum sustainable yield levels; this action aims to improve economic viability for traditional rock shrimp fishermen by restoring access to historic fishing grounds
• •A previous amendment (Amendment 10) was disapproved because it did not adequately demonstrate consistency with Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements to minimize adverse effects on essential fish habitat and to minimize bycatch; this revision addresses those deficiencies with updated analysis

Who is affected

• •Rock shrimp fishermen and commercial vessel permit holders in South Atlantic Federal waters who would regain access to traditional fishing grounds
• •Deep-water coral ecosystems and the Oculina varicosa (ivory tree coral) species within the OHAPC, which supports over 70 fish species and hundreds of invertebrate species

What happens next

Public comment period closes on December 14, 2026; NMFS will consider all comments received before making a final decision on whether to implement these amendments.