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.
Prohibit commercial harvest and commercial sale or trade of South Atlantic red snapper from federal waters whenever recreational harvest is prohibited.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia introduced H.R. 9933 on July 23, 2026, and it was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill would make it unlawful, for commercial purposes, to harvest South Atlantic red snapper from Federal waters, or to sell, purchase, trade, barter, or offer for sale such fish harvested from Federal waters, during any period when recreational harvest in Federal waters is prohibited.
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NMFS stated that the proposed EFP projects would not apply to commercial harvest. It also stated commercial harvest in South Atlantic Federal waters opened on July 13, 2026, and would close only if NMFS determines landings reach or are projected to reach the 102,951-pound commercial ACL during the fishing year. Final decisions on the EFPs remained dependent on comment review and consultations.
Assessments
Scott introduced H.R. 9933 on July 23, 2026, and the bill text directly matches the promised prohibition on commercial harvest and commercial sale or trade of South Atlantic red snapper from federal waters when recreational harvest is prohibited. However, the bill has only been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources; there is no evidence it has passed, been enacted, or been implemented by NMFS. Current agency materials still show commercial harvest governed by the commercial annual catch limit rather than automatically prohibited during recreational closures. This is a serious same-term legislative attempt, but the promised policy outcome has not been delivered.