The Other Shallow-Water Grouper complex includes scamp, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, and black grouper. The Council developed Reef Fish Amendment 58A to split the shallow-water grouper complex into two separate complexes because a stock assessment was conducted on scamp and yellowmouth grouper separate from the other species. After hearing public comment, the Council decided to delay final action on the amendment based on uncertainty associated with private recreational landings estimates generated by the federal recreational data collection program, the Marine Resource Information Program's Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES). The Council is hesitant to base sector allocations for the Scamp Complex (scamp and yellowmouth grouper) on MRIP-FES estimates before its Scientific and Statistical Committee can review the results of a pilot study being conducted to address MRIP-FES overestimation issues. In the meantime, the Council expects that the framework action finalized by the Council in June 2025 will be implemented this year. That framework will set the annual catch limit for the other-shallow water grouper complex at 322,000 pounds gutted weight and the recreational season will be open from July 1 through December 31.
About The Gulf Council
The Gulf Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of America.