South Atlantic Red Snapper Fair Access Act of 2026

Congress finds that South Atlantic red snapper is a healthy fishery resource supporting various industries, yet recreational harvest in federal waters has been severely limited to short seasons despite high demand. Conversely, commercial harvest has enjoyed substantially longer seasons, creating an imbalance. State-led pilot programs designed to improve recreational access and data collection were recently halted by a preliminary injunction, further exacerbating the issue for recreational anglers.

To address this, the bill makes it unlawful for any person to commercially harvest South Atlantic red snapper from federal waters during a covered period, defined as any time recreational harvest is prohibited. It also bans the commercial sale, purchase, trade, or barter of such snapper harvested during these periods. Violations will be treated as offenses under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to issue implementing regulations within 90 days to ensure fair access and shared conservation responsibilities across fishing sectors.