Catch Limits and Management Measures

The shallow-water grouper complex is comprised of scamp, yellowmouth grouper, black grouper, and yellowfin grouper, and is currently managed with a single annual catch limit for the complex. The Council worked on a draft framework action to modify the catch limit and recreational season for the Shallow-Water Grouper complex while Reef Fish Amendment 58A is developed. The Council previously chose a preferred alternative that would reduce the shallow-water grouper complex by 54.7%, resulting in an annual catch limit equal to 322,000 pounds gutted weight. During this meeting, the Council chose a preferred alternative that would open the recreational season on July 1 and close when the recreational portion of the annual catch limit is projected to be met. Under current projections, the season is expected to remail open through December 31.

20-Fathom Recreational Seasonal Closure

Currently, the recreational harvest of shallow-water grouper species (scamp, yellowmouth grouper, black grouper, and yellowfin grouper) and red grouper is closed for the recreational sector seaward of 20-fathoms in February and March, each year. Gag grouper is also closed to recreational harvest during that time each year. The red grouper assessment results indicated that they were healthy; thus, the Council decided to continue discussing the removal of the seasonal 20-fathom shallow-water grouper closure for the recreational sector.

Red Grouper

The Council was presented with the results of the most recent red grouper stock assessment which indicated that red grouper is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. Catch advice resulting from this assessment is more than double the current catch limits. The Council initiated work on a document to increase red grouper catch limits. However, implementation of that amendment isn’t possible before next year so, the Council also requested that National Marine Fisheries Service initiate an Emergency Rule to increase catch limits for both the recreational and commercial sectors in 2025 based on social and economic needs of communities relying on the red grouper fishery.