NOAA Announces Commercial Harvest of Greater Amberjack in Federal Waters of the Gulf of America Will Close on August 8, 2026
What/When/Where:
Commercial harvest of greater amberjack in federal waters of the Gulf will close at 12:01 am, local time, on August 8, 2026.
Greater amberjack commercial harvest will be closed until the 2027 fishing year begins on January 1, 2027.
Why The Greater Amberjack Commercial Closure Is Happening:
The 2025 commercial greater amberjack landings were 8,184 pounds over the annual catch limit of 101,000 pounds for that year.
In accordance with regulations, NOAA Fisheries was required to subtract the overage of the commercial annual catch limit from this year's annual catch limit and annual catch target.
On February 5, 2026, the 2026 commercial greater amberjack annual catch limit and annual catch target were reduced to 92,816 pounds to 85,746 pounds, respectively.
Landings data show commercial harvest of greater amberjack will meet the adjusted annual catch target.
In accordance with the regulations, NOAA Fisheries must close harvest when the commercial annual catch target has been met or is projected to be met.
Therefore, commercial harvest of greater amberjack will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, and will remain closed until 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2027.
This action is necessary to protect the greater amberjack population. This population is currently considered overfished (the population size is too low).
During the Closure
Any person aboard a vessel for which a federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued must comply with the closure regardless of where the fish are harvested.
No greater amberjack caught in Gulf federal waters after 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold.
The prohibition of sale does not apply to trade in greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore and bartered, traded, or sold before 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 8, 2026, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
