Request for Comments on a Proposed Rule to Increase Gulf of America Red Grouper Catch Limits and Modify Management Measures

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule to implement Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf, which would increase red grouper catch limits and modify management measures.   

The comment period for the proposed rule is open now through August 6, 2026.

The proposed rule would:

• Increase the Gulf red grouper annual catch limits (ACL) for the commercial and recreational sectors, and would set the commercial quota and the recreational annual catch target (ACT).  The ACL, commercial quota, and ACT would increase each year through 2028, and would remain the same thereafter. (Table 1).

Table 1: Catch limits for Gulf red grouper, including the overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), total ACL, and sector catch limits. All weights are in millions of pounds, gutted weight

• Remove the February 1 – March 31 recreational seasonal closure for shallow-water grouper species in federal waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary. Gulf shallow-water grouper species include red grouper, gag, scamp, yellowmouth grouper, black grouper, and yellowfin grouper.

Proposed Measures that are not Included in the Proposed Rule:

Some parts of Amendment 62 are not included in the proposed rule, but will be implemented in Amendment 62.  In addition to the measures in the proposed rule, Amendment 62 would: 

• Revise the status determination criteria for red grouper.
• Set the OFL and ABC for red grouper.  
• Revise allocations for the commercial and recreational sectors to account for the transition to recreational data informed by the Florida State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS):
  • The recreational sector would be allocated 31.8% of the total ACL. 
  • The commercial sector would be allocated 68.2% of the total ACL.

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

The comment period for the proposed rule is open now through August 6, 2026.  The comment period for the notice of availability for Amendment 62 ended on June 1, 2026. You may submit comments on the proposed rule by electronic submission or by postal mail.  Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 91 FR 41611, published August 7, 2026.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. 

1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2026-0991-0013

2. Click the "Comment" icon, complete the required fields.

3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Dan Luers, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is NOAA Fisheries announcing today?

• NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on the proposed rule for Amendment 62 which would:
  • Increase Gulf of America red grouper catch limits
  • Remove the recreational February-March shallow-water grouper seasonal closure in federal waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary.

Why is NOAA Fisheries taking these actions?

• The most recent stock assessment of Gulf red grouper found that catch limits could be increased substantially without harm to the stock.
• Removal of the February-March closure is expected to allow greater access to the red grouper resource for recreational fishermen.
• The management measures in this proposed rule are expected to promote optimum yield of Gulf red grouper.

What are “shallow-water grouper”?

• Shallow-water grouper are a complex of six grouper species: red grouper, gag, black grouper, yellowmouth grouper, scamp, and yellowfin grouper.
  • This grouping is based on the depth at which these species are generally caught, and whether it is common for these species to be caught on the same fishing trips.
  • NOAA Fisheries manages red grouper and gag as individual species.  The four remaining species are managed together under the Other Shallow-water Grouper complex.  Catch limits and management measures are set for the complex of four species, rather than for each species individually.

Where can I find more information on Amendment 62?

• Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

  By Mail: Daniel Luers

          NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

          Sustainable Fisheries Division

          263 13th Avenue South

          St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

     By FAX: (727) 824-5308

     By Phone: (727) 824-5305

• The amendment may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-62-gulf-red-grouper-management-measures  

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 Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
  • Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
• Gulf 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