Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Amendment 55
Key claim: NMFS implements Amendment 55 to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper FMP by separating yellowmouth grouper from the shallow water grouper complex, creating a new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex with updated catch levels, sector allocations, and a stock rebuilding plan.
Abstract
(Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 55 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule removes yellowmouth grouper from the other South Atlantic shallow water grouper (other SASWG) complex and establishes a new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex. This final rule establishes catch levels, sector management measures, and accountability measures (AM) for the new scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex and establishes catch levels for the revised other SASWG complex. In addition, Amendment 55 establishes a rebuilding plan, sector allocations, and status determination criteria (SDC) for the scamp and yellowmouth grouper complex. The purpose of this final rule and Amendment 55 is to rebuild the scamp and yellowmouth grouper stock and achieve optimum yield (OY) while minimizing to the extent practicable adverse social and economic effects.
Why this matters
Amendment 55 reorganizes South Atlantic grouper management by pulling yellowmouth grouper out of the shallow water complex and pairing it with scamp under a dedicated rebuilding plan, directly affecting commercial and recreational harvest opportunities for these species. It parallels the concurrent Gulf of America shallow-water grouper action, signaling coordinated NMFS attention to scamp and yellowmouth stocks across regions. Consumer-facing price effects are likely modest given the niche market, but reduced landings could raise wholesale prices for these specific groupers.