The Gulf Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are developing a joint Amendment to modify mutton and yellowtail snapper management measures including stock catch limits, jurisdictional apportionment of the stocks, regional annual catch limits, and South Atlantic sector allocations for both species within the South Atlantic Council's jurisdiction.
New stock assessments were completed for southeastern U.S. mutton snapper and yellowtail snapper, which indicated that the stocks were healthy as of 2023, with northward range expansion evident in both regions. The current preferred alternatives are not expected to result in fishery closures.
The Councils would like your feedback on proposed changes to yellowtail and mutton snapper management. Join us during a virtual public hearing at 6:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to learn more about the proposed changes and provide comment.
Register for and join the virtual public hearing meeting, here.
For Gulf fishermen, written comment is due by October 23, 2026. Other resources including a video, the latest draft of the document, and an online comment form will be published here as they become available: https://gulfcouncil.org/amendments/modifications-to-mutton-snapper-and-yellowtail-snapper-management-measures/
For South Atlantic fishermen, written comment is due by October 23, 2026. Other resources including a video, the latest draft of the document, and an online comment form will be published here as they become available: https://safmc.net/events/oct-2026-public-hearings-snapper-grouper-amendment-44/
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.