Red Grouper Quota Holdback in Anticipation of Amendment 63 Implementation

This framework action is proposed by the Gulf Council (Council) to support the implementation of Amendment 63 to the Reef Fish FMP. The Council developed Amendment 63 in anticipation of the substantial Gulf of America (Gulf) red grouper quota increase they approved through Amendment 62 to the Reef Fish FMP. Amendment 63 would establish a pilot program for setting aside a portion of the increase in red grouper commercial quota for a quota pool. This three-year pilot program is intended to run from 2027 to 2029, using the substantial increase in red grouper quota as an opportunity to test a new method to improve access to red grouper allocation for some participants in the Grouper-Tilefish IFQ program and reduce bycatch and discards of IFQ species. The Council approved Amendment 63 for NMFS review and implementation at their June 2026 meeting.

The purpose of this framework action is to allow NMFS to implement Amendment 63, if approved, in the 2027 fishing year. NMFS annually distributes the red grouper commercial quota around January 1 for that fishing year. For Amendment 63 to be implemented in 2027, NMFS would have to withhold the percentage of the quota on January 1 that would be necessary to establish the quota pool. If Amendment 63 is not approved and implemented by May 1, 2027, the withheld quota would be distributed to shareholders. This rule proposes to provide the NMFS Regional Administrator the authority to withhold a percentage of the 2027 commercial quota of red grouper equivalent to the portion of the commercial quota proposed for the quota pool in Amendment 63.