NOAAFinal Rule

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic: 2025 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Gag in the South Atlantic

EnvironmentAgriculture

Summary

This regulation closes the recreational gag fish season in the South Atlantic to prevent overfishing and allow the population to recover. The closure means recreational fishers in the Atlantic can no longer catch gag fish, even though they could before.

Key Points

  • 1Recreational fishing for gag (a type of saltwater fish) is now closed in the South Atlantic region, meaning people cannot legally catch them for sport
  • 2The closure was triggered by an accountability measure, which is an automatic rule that kicks in when fishing catches exceed the allowed limits
  • 3This affects recreational fishers in states along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida who fish in federal waters
  • 4The regulation is meant to protect the gag fish population from becoming too depleted and unsustainable
  • 5Fishers must follow the closure immediately; violating it can result in fines and penalties

Key Dates

Published

March 24, 2025

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.

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