NOAA Fisheries has released more than half a million pounds of previously withheld deep-water grouper quota to Gulf of Mexico fishermen, after a proposed rule to reduce catch limits could not be finalized in time.

The agency distributed 545,576 pounds gutted weight of Individual Fishing Quota allocation to shareholders on April 1 bringing the total commercial quota for the year to 1,024,000 pounds gutted weight.

The quota had been withheld at the start of the year to account for a proposed reduction under Amendment 58B to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf. The amendment calls for a commercial annual catch limit of 498,358 pounds gutted weight and a commercial quota of 478,424 pounds gutted weight for the deep-water grouper complex.

That complex includes yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, warsaw grouper and speckled hind. Federal managers moved to lower catch limits after a recent stock assessment found overfishing of yellowedge grouper.

When NOAA Fisheries issued 2026 IFQ allocations on Jan. 1, the agency held back a portion of the quota in anticipation that the new limits could take effect. Under federal rules, however, withheld quota must be distributed if a final rule is not published in the Federal Register and in effect by June 1.

Although Amendment 58B was made available for public comment on March 3, the agency said it could not finalize implementing regulations before the June deadline.

As a result, the withheld quota was returned to IFQ shareholders based on the percentage of shares they held at the time of distribution. Fishermen who hold deep-water grouper shares received additional allocation in their IFQ accounts.

NOAA Fisheries said the decision supports participants’ ability to plan business operations, noting the agency had committed to withholding the quota only until June 1.

The deep-water grouper IFQ program is designed to manage harvest levels while allowing fishermen flexibility in how they use their allocation. Because quota distributed at the start of the fishing year cannot be reclaimed, managers initially withheld the portion tied to the proposed reduction as a precaution.

For more information, fishermen can contact Catch Share Customer Support at (866) 425-7627, select option 2, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, or email nmfs.ser.catchshare@noaa.gov.

Additional details on Amendment 58B are available online at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-58b-modifications-deep-water-grouper-management-measures.