# 2026-08910: NOAA Proposes New Limits on Gulf Grouper Fishing Seasons 2026-08910, Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 58B, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-05-06, effective Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before June 5, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08910 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-08910 - Title: Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 58B - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Citation: 91 FR 24500 - Published: 2026-05-06 - Effective: Written comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before June 5, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-06-05 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 0648-BN91 - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line NOAA Proposes New Limits on Gulf Grouper Fishing Seasons ## Summary Fishermen and fish lovers in the Gulf of America, listen up! Amendment 58B proposes new rules to update how much deep-water grouper can be caught, including setting clear limits for recreational fishers and adjusting how the catch is shared between groups. Comments are open until June 5, 2026, so now’s the time to weigh in before these changes could impact fishing seasons and catches. ## Abstract NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 58B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP) (Amendment 58B). For the deep-water grouper (DWG) complex, this proposed rule would revise the catch limits, set a recreational annual catch limit (ACL), and revise the recreational accountability measure (AM). Amendment 58B would also revise the status determination criteria and sector allocations for the DWG complex. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 58B is to update catch levels, management measures, and sector allocations for the DWG complex consistent with the best scientific information available. ## Effects PRIA read - Big Cuts to Catch Limits: cost, high. If you run a commercial fishing business that harvests deep-water grouper (DWG) in the Gulf, the total complex ACL is proposed to be cut from 1,105,000 lb to 555,026 lb. The proposed commercial ACL would fall from 1,070,000 lb to 498,000 lb and the commercial quota would be reduced from 1,024,000 l… - New Recreational Catch Limit Set: cost, medium. If you fish for deep-water grouper for fun (recreationally), a new recreational ACL of 56,668 lb (gutted weight) would be set for the DWG complex. The rule establishes this specific recreational ACL (10.21 percent of the complex ACL) where previously no recreational ACL was specified. - Recreational Season May Be Shortened: cost, medium. The recreational accountability measure would change to use moving 3-year averages: if the 3-year average recreational landings exceed the 3-year average recreational ACL and the 3-year average total landings exceed the 3-year average complex ACL, NMFS may shorten the next recreational fishing seas… - Sector Allocation Shifts to Favor Commercial: mixed, medium. The proposed allocation would change the split of the complex ACL so commercial receives 89.79 percent and recreational receives 10.21 percent based on 2019–2023 recreational landings. Previously the commercial allocation was based on 2001–2004 data (96.50 percent). - Average Vessel Revenue and Profit Drop: cost, high. NMFS estimates the average commercial vessel that lands DWG would see an annual ex-vessel revenue decrease of $9,172 and an economic profit decrease of $3,669 under the proposed allocation and quota changes. The document states this represents about a 3 percent reduction in average annual ex-vessel… - New stock reference levels (MSY, OFL, ABC): mixed, medium. Amendment 58B would change the DWG stock reference points: the MSY proxy would be set to fishing at an F that produces 40% SPR (F40%SPR), the OFL would be 731,035 lb, and the ABC would be 555,026 lb (gutted weight). The complex ACL would be set equal to the ABC. - IFQ Allocation and Share-Price Effects: mixed, medium. The proposed lower commercial quota would make DWG IFQ allocation scarcer and NMFS notes this may raise allocation transfer prices and could change IFQ share values. These price effects are not quantified in the document but are described as possible consequences of a reduced fixed supply of alloca… ## Related documents - [2026-14204](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14204): Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date, 2026-07-15 - [2026-14195](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14195): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2026-07-14 - [2026-07536](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07536): Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys in the Gulf of America, 2026-04-17 - [2026-05599](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-05599): Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period…, 2026-03-23 - [2026-04256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04256): Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fi…, 2026-03-04 - [2025-06746](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-06746): Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act, 2025-04-17 ## Sources - [2026-08910 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08910/reef-fish-fishery-of-the-gulf-of-america-amendment-58b) - [2026-08910 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-06/pdf/2026-08910.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-08902, Special Local Regulation; Neuse and Trent Rivers, New Bern, NC](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08902) - [Next: 2026-08911, Update to Proscribed Countries for Import Restrictions](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08911) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08910 (as of 2026-06-11).