Shallow Grouper Quota Paused: Fishery Prep for New Limits
Published Date: 12/23/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 1, 2026, commercial fishers who catch certain shallow-water groupers in the Gulf of America will see a temporary hold on part of their fishing quota. This pause helps prepare for new rules that might lower the total amount of these groupers allowed to be caught. The holdback lasts until June 1, 2026, and affects those in the Groupers and Tilefishes IFQ program, aiming to keep fish populations healthy and fishing fair.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary holdback of 2026 grouper IFQ
If you are a commercial fisher with shares in the Groupers and Tilefishes IFQ (GT-IFQ) program, NMFS will withhold part of your 2026 allocation for the Other Shallow-Water Grouper (Other SWG) complex starting January 1, 2026 through June 1, 2026. NMFS will distribute only 245,410 lb (111,316 kg) of Other SWG allocation on January 1, 2026 and will withhold the remainder equal to the anticipated quota reduction (the framework would reduce the commercial ACL from 547,000 lb to 255,636 lb and the commercial quota from 525,000 lb to 245,410 lb). If NMFS does not implement the framework action by June 1, 2026, the withheld allocation will be returned to current shareholders.
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