Grouper Showdown: New Catch Rules Split Gulf Fishers
Published Date: 3/3/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
Fishermen and fish lovers in the Gulf of America, listen up! Amendment 58B proposes new rules for deep-water grouper fishing, including updated catch limits and how the catch is shared between commercial and recreational fishers. If approved, these changes aim to keep grouper populations healthy while balancing who gets to catch what, with public comments open until May 4, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Large Cut to Commercial Quota
If you fish commercially for deep-water grouper, the commercial ACL would be cut from 1.070 million lb to 498,000 lb and the commercial quota would drop from 1.024 million lb to 478,000 lb. The proposed commercial quota would remain 4 percent less than the commercial ACL.
New Recreational Catch Limit Set
For the first time, a recreational ACL for the deep-water grouper complex would be set at 56,668 lb (25,704 kg), and recreational allocation would be 10.21 percent of the complex ACL while commercial allocation would be 89.79 percent. The overall complex ACL would be reduced to 555,026 lb (251,756 kg).
Recreational Accountability Measure Change
The recreational accountability measure (AM) would change to use moving 3-year averages of recreational and total DWG landings compared to average ACLs; if both averages exceed their ACLs, the following fishing year’s recreational season length would be reduced unless NMFS finds a reduction unnecessary. This change aims to better constrain recreational landings and reduce risk of overfishing.
Change to Stock Status Criteria
Amendment 58B would change the MSY proxy to the yield at F40SPR and set a new OFL of 731,035 lb (331,592 kg) and ABC of 555,026 lb (251,756 kg) for the deep-water grouper complex to help end overfishing of yellowedge grouper. The complex ACL would be set equal to the ABC.
IFQ Allocation Rounded Down
Under the IFQ program, the commercial ACL and quota would be rounded down to the nearest thousand lb (454 kg) before allocation distribution so distributed IFQ shares will not exceed the commercial quota. This rounding affects how much allocation individual IFQ shareholders receive.
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Key Dates
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