The Gulf Council took final action on Reef Fish Amendment 62 which considers increasing red grouper catch limits and eliminating the recreational shallow-water grouper closed season. For red grouper, the Council decided to phase in total annual catch limit increases over a three-year period, establish 68.2% commercial and 31.8% recreational sector allocations, and maintain the current 5% commercial and 9% recreational buffers between their respective annual catch limits and annual catch targets. The Council also decided to eliminate the February 1 – March 31 recreational shallow-water grouper closure beyond 20-fathoms.
The most recent red grouper stock assessment (SEDAR 88) indicated that red grouper is not overfished or experiencing overfishing, and the resulting catch advice is a substantial increase from the current catch limits. The assessment also incorporated recreational landings using Florida's State Reef Fish Survey data and an updated Maximum Sustainable Yield proxy that will leave more fish in the water to spawn to increase the resiliency of the stock. Changes to red grouper management are expected to increase recreational fishing opportunities and provide economic benefits to the commercial sector.
Eliminating the February-March recreational closed season for shallow-water grouper in federal waters seaward of 20-fathoms should alleviate burdens to recreational fishing, especially since many of the species protected by the closure are either no longer in need of additional protections (red grouper) or are unaffected by the closure, given other current and planned regulations.
This amendment will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for consideration and implementation as soon as practicable.
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.