Council Proposes Reopening Oculina Bank to Trawling
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council seeks to allow shrimping in 24 square nautical miles of the protected Florida reef.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Fishing
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Should federal protections for rare coral reefs be prioritized over expanding commercial fishing access?
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has recommended reopening 24 square nautical miles of the Oculina Bank to shrimp trawling. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has now opened a public comment period regarding the proposal.
Why it matters
A Trump administration executive order tasked regional councils with reducing regulatory burdens and expanding fishing access. Council officials argue the reopening will help the industry achieve optimum yield in the brown rock shrimp fishery.
Historical trawling destroyed approximately 90% of the reef before federal protections were enacted. In 2023, US brown rock shrimp landings totaled 600,000 pounds, valued at $1 million.
The players
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
This federal advisory body is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit off the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This federal scientific and regulatory agency oversees the management of ocean and coastal resources, including the implementation of fishery protections.
The details
The Oculina Bank, built by Oculina varicosa coral off the Florida coast, has been under federal protection since the 1990s to combat damage from trawling. Officials are considering reversing these closures to restore access to grounds that saw hundreds of annual trips in the mid-1990s but have since faced significant declines in participation.
Timeline
Protections closed parts of the reef to trawling during the 1990s.
The number of active rock shrimpers totaled 144 in 1996.
Annual rock shrimp trips fell to fewer than 100 by 2010.
US brown rock shrimp landings totaled 600,000 pounds in 2023.
The public comment period on the proposal closes on November 17, 2026.
Culture Shift
This proposal reflects a broader move to balance environmental conservation with the economic interests of commercial industries. It highlights a shift in policy priorities aimed at loosening legacy protections in favor of expanding resource access.
The potential reopening of these waters could affect Florida’s broader fishing industry, which landed 100 million pounds of fish valued at nearly $300 million in 2023. Local residents and stakeholders have until November 2026 to submit feedback through the federal registry.
The takeaway
Balancing the restoration of fragile coral ecosystems with the economic needs of the shrimping industry remains a complex regulatory challenge. Readers interested in conservation policy should monitor the upcoming federal vote for potential impacts on Atlantic marine habitats.
What happens next
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to hold a vote on the proposal to reopen the area after the public comment period concludes on November 17, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local regulations on the Florida Fishing section of our site.
More information
Submit your feedback or view the official proposal through the federal public comment submission portal.
Live Poll
Should federal protections for rare coral reefs be prioritized over expanding commercial fishing access?
