NOAA opens review of Gray's Reef sanctuary management plan, with five public meetings in November
NOAA is asking for public input on the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary management plan off Georgia. Comments are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 17, 2026, and public meetings run November 4 to 18 in Georgia and South Carolina. The notice starts a review; it does not announce any new fishing rule.
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is starting a comprehensive review of the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary management plan and is requesting information on the scope, types and significance of issues the revision should address. The notice, FR Doc. 2026-22287, is scheduled for the November 2, 2026 Federal Register. It asks for input from individuals, companies, organizations, Tribes and government agencies.
Written comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on December 17, 2026, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal (docket NOAA-NOS-2026-2740) or by mail to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Attn: Management Plan Review, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411. Comments sent any other way, or late, may not be considered. Comments are generally posted publicly, including the commenter's name.
Public meetings are listed for November 4 in Brunswick, GA; November 10 in Okatie, SC; November 13 in Savannah, GA; November 17 in Conway, SC; and November 18 in Charleston, SC, all as late-afternoon or evening sessions. The Sanctuary Advisory Council will discuss the review at its fall meeting on November 12. NOAA says locations and times can change, so confirm them at graysreef.noaa.gov/mpr before attending.
What it means for anglers: this is a scoping step. The notice as published does not propose or change any fishing rule, and it does not say what a revised plan would contain. Anglers who use the sanctuary area should read the notice and the sanctuary's current regulations before commenting, since the Federal Register text and NOAA's sanctuary pages control, not this summary.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.