South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act of 2026

Austin Scott

Republican · GA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

2026-07-23

Source: Congress.gov

The proposal would ban commercial fishing for red snapper in the South Atlantic during specific times of the year to help protect the fish population. This restriction would affect fishing companies and commercial fishermen who operate in those waters, while allowing recreational fishing to continue under existing rules. The measure aims to ensure red snapper populations remain healthy for future fishing generations.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9933 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9933 To prohibit certain commercial activities with respect to certain South Atlantic red snapper during certain periods, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2026 Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prohibit certain commercial activities with respect to certain South Atlantic red snapper during certain periods, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) South Atlantic red snapper is a healthy public fishery resource that supports recreational anglers, for-hire operators, coastal communities, fishing tackle retailers, marinas, restaurants, lodging providers, and other businesses throughout the South Atlantic region. (2) In recent years, recreational harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters has been limited to extremely short seasons, including one- and two-day seasons, despite historic abundance and strong public demand for access to the fishery. (3) Conversely, commercial harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters has remained open for substantially longer periods, including commercial seasons that have lasted for weeks or months in recent years. (4) Leading up to the 2026 recreational fishing season, the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, working with the National Marine Fisheries Service, developed and received approval for State-led exempted fishing permit pilot programs designed to improve recreational fisheries data collection, test State management strategies, reduce uncertainty, and provide more reasonable recreational access to South Atlantic red snapper. (5) Those State-led pilot programs were halted by a preliminary injunction issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, blocking the approved 2026 pilot seasons for the States of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, including Florida's season just hours before it was scheduled to begin. (6) While anglers continue to sit at the dock awaiting a management system that allows reasonable access to a healthy public fishery resource, conservation burdens and access restrictions should be shared fairly across sectors. SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN SOUTH ATLANTIC RED SNAPPER DURING CERTAIN PERIODS. (a) In General.--It is unlawful for any person, for commercial purposes-- (1) to harvest any South Atlantic red snapper from Federal waters during a covered period; or (2) to sell, purchase, trade, barter, or offer for sale any South Atlantic red snapper harvested from Federal waters during a covered period. (b) Penalties.-- (1) In general.--An act described in subsection (a) shall be treated as an act described in section 307 of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857) for purposes of sections 308 through 311 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1858-1860). (2) Enforcement.--The Secretary shall enforce this section as if a violation of subsection (a) were a violation of section 307 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1857). (c) Implementation.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (d) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means a period during which the recreational harvest of South Atlantic red snapper in Federal waters is prohibited. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce,…

acting through the Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service. (3) South atlantic red snapper.--The term ``South Atlantic red snapper'' means red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) subject to management under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region published by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. <all>

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