Fisheries Management – Gulf of America

Current understanding

NMFS manages reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) EEZ under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. In late 2024/2025, NMFS finalized measures reducing catch limits and establishing a recreational fixed-closed season for shallow-water grouper species (scamp and yellowmouth grouper) as an interim action while Amendment 58A is developed to provide longer-term management. Practical effects include tighter commercial and recreational harvest opportunities intended to prevent overfishing pending updated stock assessment work.

Evidence log

• 2026-07-22 — Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of America and Atlantic Region; Framework Amendment 14: cross-connection with fisheries-management-coastal-migratory-pelagics: Gulf Spanish mackerel ACL and AM revisions under CMP Framework Amendment 14 directly affect Gulf of America commercial and recreational mackerel fisheries. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-07 — Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 62: NMFS proposed rule (Reef Fish FMP Amendment 62) would revise catch limits and commercial/recreational sector allocations for Gulf of America red grouper and remove the February 1–March 31 recreational seasonal closure for shallow-water grouper in Gulf Federal waters. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-26 — Electronic Logbook Reporting in Commercial Fisheries of the Gulf of America and Atlantic: NMFS proposed rule would require federally permitted commercial fishermen in the Gulf of America (along with the South Atlantic and Atlantic) to submit logbooks electronically rather than on paper, aiming to improve data accuracy and efficiency. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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