What/when:
- Commercial harvest of Atlantic group cobia (Georgia through New York) will close in federal waters at 12:01 a.m., local time, December 16, 2022. Commercial harvest will reopen in federal waters at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2023.
Why this closure is happening:
- The 2022 commercial quota is 73,116 pounds whole or gutted weight. Projections by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission indicate the 2022 Atlantic group cobia quota for the commercial sector will be reached by December 16, 2022.
- This closure is necessary to protect the Atlantic cobia resource by preventing the commercial quota from being exceeded.
After the closure:
- The harvest, sale, trade, barter, or purchase of Atlantic migratory group cobia in or from federal waters during a closure is prohibited. These prohibitions do not apply to the sale or purchase of Atlantic cobia that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, December 16, 2022, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-697/subpart-B/section-697.28.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA’s Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Text alerts you may receive include:
- Immediate fishery openings and closures
- Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office.
Permits Mailbox:
The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.
Other contacts:
Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
