Modification of Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper Catch Limits

This rule increases the Gulf of Mexico red grouper overfishing limit , acceptable biological catch, and commercial and recreational annual catch limits , and annual catch targets, consistent with the most recent stock analyses and subsequent Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations. This action increases limits based upon catch limits and allocation percentages that were implemented in Amendment 53 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan.

The need for the rule is to establish catch limits that achieve optimum yield, while preventing overfishing, consistent with the recommendations by the SSC and requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.