Commercial harvest of greater amberjack in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will close at 12:01 a.m. local time Aug. 8 after NOAA Fisheries determined the adjusted commercial annual catch target has been met or is projected to be met.

The closure will remain in effect until the 2027 fishing year begins at 12:01 a.m. local time Jan. 1, 2027.

The closure follows a 2025 commercial harvest that exceeded the annual catch limit by 8,184 pounds. Commercial landings totaled 109,184 pounds, surpassing the annual catch limit of 101,000 pounds.

Under federal regulations, NOAA Fisheries was required to deduct the overage from the 2026 commercial annual catch limit and annual catch target. On Feb. 5, the agency reduced the commercial annual catch limit to 92,816 pounds from 101,000 pounds and lowered the annual catch target to 85,746 pounds.

According to NOAA Fisheries, commercial landings data indicate the adjusted annual catch target will be reached, requiring the agency to close the fishery under federal regulations.

The agency said the action is necessary to protect the greater amberjack population, which is currently considered overfished because its population size is too low.

During the closure, anyone aboard a vessel issued a federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish must comply with the closure regardless of where the fish were harvested.

Greater amberjack caught in Gulf federal waters after 12:01 a.m. local time Aug. 8 may not be purchased, bartered, traded or sold.

The prohibition does not apply to greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore and bartered, traded or sold before 12:01 a.m. local time Aug. 8 and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

This information is only a summary of existing regulations. Full regulations are available in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR Part 622 or at www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-622/subpart-B/.