Key Message
NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf to modify red grouper management measures. The proposed changes are based on recommendations of the Gulf Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee. Amendment 62 would:
- Revise the status determination criteria for red grouper.
- Set the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for red grouper. The total annual catch limit (ACL) would be set at 80% of the ABC in 2026, 90% of the ABC in 2027, and equal to the ABC in 2028 and subsequent years.
- Modify sector ACLs, the commercial quota, and the recreational annual catch target (ACT) and revise sector allocations based on the same reference period used to set current sector allocations (1986-2005), except replacing Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP)-Fishing Effort Survey (FES) data estimates for private recreational vessel harvest with estimates generated by the Florida State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS). As a result of this transition from MRIP-FES to SRFS:
- The recreational sector would be allocated 31.8% of the total ACL. The recreational ACT would continue to be reduced by 9% from the recreational ACL.
- The commercial sector would be allocated 68.2% of the total ACL. The commercial quota would continue to be reduced from the commercial ACL by 5% to allow for the established red grouper multi-use provision.
Catch limits for Gulf red grouper. All weights are in millions of pounds, gutted weight
| Year | OFL | ABC | Total ACL | Rec ACL | Rec ACT | Comm ACL | Comm Quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10.63 | 8.28 | 6.62 | 2.11 | 1.92 | 4.51 | 4.28 |
| 2027 | 7.45 | 2.37 | 2.16 | 5.08 | 4.83 | ||
| 2028+ | 8.28 | 2.63 | 2.39 | 5.65 | 5.37 |
- Remove the February 1 – March 31 recreational seasonal closure for shallow-water grouper species in federal waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary. Gulf shallow-water grouper species include red grouper, gag, scamp, yellowmouth grouper, black grouper, and yellowfin grouper.
How to Comment on Amendment 62:
The comment period for the notice of availability is open now through June 01, 2026. The comment period on the proposed rule is expected to fall within this same timeframe, and comments on both the amendment and proposed rule will be considered when deciding whether to approve the amendment and when finalizing the rulemaking. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.