This final rule will implement the rebuilding plan recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) for the overfished Queets River Spring/Summer Chinook salmon stock (Queets sp/su Chinook salmon). This final rule identifies changes to the regulations to implement the rebuilding plan.
NMFS issues regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 36 under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (Snapper-Grouper FMP). This final rule revises the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper. Additionally, this final rule revises the transit storage requirements for commercial on-demand, also known as ropeless, black sea bass pots. The purpose of these regulatory changes is to increase biological benefits to the gag and black grouper stocks, and to allow more practical transit of vessels through certain gear restricted areas with on-demand black sea bass pots on board, consistent with mandates in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the September time period. The General category may only retain, possess, or land large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) BFT when the fishery is open. This action also waives the previously scheduled restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the remainder of the September time period. With the RFDs waived during the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch-and- release and tag-and-release programs. On October 1, 2026, the fishery will reopen automatically and previously scheduled RFDs for the October through November time period will resume.
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service), are correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 1, 2026. The rule opened or expanded hunting opportunities on 111 field stations, including 107 units of the National Wildlife Refuges System (Refuge System or NWRS) and 4 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (Hatchery System or NFHS).
Today, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney launched the OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System at a high‑level pledging event in New York.
For the 2026 fishing year, NMFS announces the red snapper recreational fishing season dates in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Announcing the opening and closing dates of the red snapper recreational season is an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational sector and allows fishers the opportunity to harvest the recreational annual catch limit (ACL) while also managing harvest to protect the red snapper resource.
This rule proposes 2027-28 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). This rule also includes proposed regulations to implement amendment 38 to the Groundfish FMP, which would remove rebuilding plan requirements for yelloweye rockfish and California quillback rockfish. Lastly, this rule includes proposed regulations to modify select fishery closures that apply to both groundfish and Pacific halibut.
NMFS seeks public comment on proposed regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 37 under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP). If implemented by NMFS, Regulatory Amendment 37 and this proposed rule would revise several management measures for black sea bass in South Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of these proposed regulatory changes is to immediately address declining abundance and landings of black sea bass while stock assessment updates are completed and separate longer-term actions are developed.
NMFS is prohibiting retention of "other rockfish" in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 2026 "other rockfish" total allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI will soon be or has been reached.