Gulf of America Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Reminders

Key Messages:

• NOAA Fisheries is sending this reminder to ensure IFQ participants are informed about end of year maintenance restrictions and 2026 start of year information.
• This bulletin contains information on the 2026 IFQ quotas.
• This bulletin provides additional information on the IFQ system functions and requirements to ensure participants understand how to participate in the program.

IFQ End of Year Maintenance Period and the 2026 Quotas: 

What do I need to know about the end of year maintenance period? 

• NOAA Fisheries will shut down the Catch Shares online system for maintenance on December 31, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. EST.  Dealers and IFQ fishermen are reminded that all electronic transactions for the 2025 fishing year must be completed before this time.
• Online IFQ functions will resume on January 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST.
• You may still submit an advanced notice of landing during the 20-hour maintenance window by using your vessel monitoring system or by calling the 24/7 Call Service at (866) 425-7627 and selecting option 1.  However, only landing transactions completed prior to 6:00 p.m. EST, December 31, 2025, will count toward your 2025 allocation.
• Please ensure any share transfers are completed before the online system maintenance outage (December 31, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. EST through January 1, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST).  Any transfers initiated by the transferor but not accepted by the transferee will be canceled and the shares will remain in the transferor’s account. 

What happens to the unused allocation left in my account?

• Any allocation remaining in your shareholder or vessel accounts on December 31, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., EST, expires. The system removes expired allocations from the shareholder and vessel accounts.

What should I know about using my allocation?

• At the time of submitting a 3-hour pre-landing notification, there must be sufficient allocation for each share category in either your vessel account and/or associated shareholder account.
• At the time of submitting a dealer landing transaction, there must be sufficient allocation for each share category in your vessel account. 

What else do I need to know about my 2026 allocation and allocation transfers?

• On January 1, 2026, the 2026 allocation will be issued to the shareholder accounts.  To use this allocation to harvest IFQ species, you must transfer sufficient allocation to your vessel account prior to completing a landing transaction.  To transfer allocation to your vessel account, log in to your shareholder account. On the menu bar, select Allocation, then select Transfer Allocation and follow the instructions. You may also reference the Catch Shares Online System Troubleshooting Guide.
• When transferring allocation to another shareholder’s vessel account, use the vessel’s Coast Guard documentation or state registration number in the search box.  Many vessels have similar names and this will ensure the correct vessel receives the allocation.
  • Allocation transfers are one-step processes and are completed upon submission.
  • NOAA Fisheries cannot reverse an incorrect allocation transfer without the consent of both parties.
  • NOAA Fisheries encourages the parties to contact each other and make the corrections themselves.

What are the 2026 quotas for each IFQ share category?

¹A reduction in these share categories’ quotas is expected to occur after January 1, 2026 but before June 1, 2026, therefore NMFS will withhold distribution of the IFQ allocation on January 1, 2026 in the amount equal to the reduction.  If the final rule to implement the commercial quota reduction is not published in the Federal Register and effective by June 1, 2026, NMFS will distribute the withheld quota to current shareholders. 

 ²The emergency rule to increase Gulf red grouper catch rates will end December 31, 2025 and catch limits will return to the previously established level.

Why are the Deep-water Grouper and Other Shallow-water Grouper quotas being reduced?

Earlier this year, the Gulf Council approved proposed reductions to the Deep-water Grouper and Other Shallow-water Grouper quotas for review and implementation by NOAA Fisheries. If implemented, NOAA Fisheries does not expect the proposed reductions to take effect until after initial allocations are distributed to shareholders on January 1, 2026. For that reason, when we distribute initial allocations to shareholders on January 1, 2026, we will withhold the distribution of a portion of the Deep-water Grouper and Other Shallow-water Grouper allocation in the amount equal to the proposed quota reductions. If we do not implement the reductions by June 1, 2026, then we will distribute the withheld allocation back to the current shareholders, as determined by the shares held on the same date that we distribute the withheld quota.

Why is the red grouper quota less than the end of year 2026 quota?

NOAA Fisheries took an emergency action in 2025 to increase the red grouper catch limits, including the commercial quota.  The Emergency Rule is effective through December 31, 2025, and cannot be extended. The Gulf Council is working on a longer-term action to increase the commercial red grouper quota through Amendment 62 to the Reef Fish FMP: Modifications to the Gulf Red Grouper Management Measures.  Since this action will not be final and effective on January 1, 2026, the 2026 red grouper commercial quota will return to the level it was before the Emergency Rule was implemented.  Any additional quota increase approved and implemented through Amendment 62 will be released to the current shareholders after rulemaking is completed.

What are the 2026 multi-use allocation percentages and how are they determined?

The gag and red grouper multi-use allocation percentages may change each year based on the annual catch limits and quotas for red grouper and gag.  The percentages are calculated based on a formulaic process involving the annual catch limits and annual catch targets of both species. Since gag is in a rebuilding plan, regulations established in Amendment 56 to the Reef Fish FMP require that red grouper multi-use allocation be set to zero.  As such, for 2026, red grouper multi-use allocation will be 0% of your total red grouper allocation, while gag multi-use allocation will be 58.80% of your total gag allocation.

Catch Shares Online System Account Security

The Catch Shares Online System uses multiple personal identification numbers (PINs) and other security measures in order to protect your identity and your assets, much like a bank.  It is important to understand the distinctions between PIN types, including their intended use and requirements. Regardless of type, PINs should not be shared with anyone other than the entities listed on the account. 

Shareholder Account PIN

• Used to access and edit information in both your shareholder and vessel accounts
• Used to transfer/accept shares
• Used to transfer allocation
• Expires every 6 months

Vessel Account PIN

• Used to access information about your vessel account
• Expires every 6 months

Dealer Account PIN

• Used to access information about your dealer account
• Used to process landing transactions
• Expires every 6 months

Vessel Signature PIN

• Used to confirm dealer landing transactions
• Entered by the vessel owner or captain
• Never expires

To change a PIN, log into the account you want to change the PIN of, click “Account” along the top right of the header banner, and select “Update Account” from the dropdown menu. 

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Reminders

• When using a VMS unit to submit a 3-hour pre-landing notification, you must enter the correct numeric code for both the landing location and the IFQ dealer.

• For information specific to the Southeast Vessel Monitoring Program, call the Southeast Office of Law Enforcement VMS staff at (727) 314-2862 or (800) 758-4833.

Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures

NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery-related alerts via text message (SMS).  Standard message & data rates may apply.  You may opt out at any time. 

Text alerts you may receive include:

• Immediate fishery openings and closures.
• Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly. 

Sign up for one or more of the following groups:

• Gulf of America Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf of America Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
• South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
• Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text CARIBFISH to 888777 

Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office 

Permits Mailbox 

The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information contact the Permits Office at (877) 376-4877.

 Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750 

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan (727) 385-5202