TAKE ACTION
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Submit a Public Comment
Deadline: November 17, 2026. 36 days remaining.
Use Our Comment Guide
Find prompts for a comment in your own words.
Share with Friends & Family
Share the campaign and its official sources.
Send Us Your Opinion
A private message to Halo Ocean Alliance.
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PUBLIC COMMENT QUESTIONS
Is this a vote?
This is a federal public-comment process on a proposed fishery management action. It is not a vote, a petition, or an election.
Official proposed rule (opens in a new tab)Does the form on this site send my comment to NOAA?
No. The form sends a private message to Halo Ocean Alliance. It does not submit or forward a federal public comment. Official online comments go through Regulations.gov.
Who decides?
NOAA Fisheries decides on the proposed fishery management action.
NOAA's official action page (opens in a new tab)What happens after November 17?
NOAA reviews comments and announces its decision. Follow updates on the official action page.
Follow the official action (opens in a new tab)SEND A PRIVATE MESSAGE TO HALO OCEAN ALLIANCE
This is not a federal public comment. NOAA will not see it.
Read the privacy policySend a private opinion
This message goes privately to Halo Ocean Alliance. It is not a federal public comment and will never be sent to NOAA.
Federal public comments go through Regulations.gov, a U.S. government website. Read our privacy policy before sending a private message.
Official NOAA comment page (U.S. government)
USE OUR COMMENT GUIDE
Write in your own words. Explain what you support or oppose, identify the part of the proposal you are discussing, and connect your concerns to evidence or your experience. Be specific and respectful. These prompts can help you develop your comment:
READ THE PROPOSAL AND ITS CONTEXT
The proposal would establish a 14.10 square nautical mile shrimp fishery access area along the eastern boundary of the northern extension of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern, where trawling for rock shrimp is currently prohibited.
Square nautical miles, not ordinary square miles.
NOAA Fisheries (opens in a new tab)
NOAA describes a 350 to 1,580 meter variable buffer between the access area and known coral pinnacles, intended to prevent sedimentation impacts from trawling.
This is the proposal's stated purpose for the buffers; their effectiveness is part of what the public may comment on.
NOAA Fisheries (opens in a new tab)
NOAA says the action is intended to increase access to historic rock shrimp fishing grounds to optimize yield in the rock shrimp fishery, while maintaining protection to deep-water corals.
NOAA Fisheries (opens in a new tab)
In July 2022 NOAA disapproved an earlier request, Coral Amendment 10, finding it did not adequately show how it would minimize adverse effects on essential fish habitat and minimize bycatch.
NOAA Fisheries (opens in a new tab)
This draft stays on your device. Paste it into Regulations.gov.
Your draft is kept only while this page is open. Copy it before leaving or refreshing the page.
INCLUDE THE DOCKET
Docket: NOAA-NMFS-2026-1750
OTHER OFFICIAL METHOD
NOAA also provides a mailing address. Follow the official instructions and include the docket ID.
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505Official comment instructions (opens in a new tab)