NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on proposed changes to catch limits and management measures for deep-water grouper in the Gulf, aiming to end overfishing and improve long-term sustainability for several species.

The proposal, known as Amendment 58B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf, would revise catch limits and sector allocations for the deep-water grouper complex, which includes yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, warsaw grouper and speckled hind, according to a notice from the federal agency.

Federal officials say the changes follow recommendations from the Gulf Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee and are intended to address findings from the most recent stock assessment of yellowedge grouper, which determined the species is currently being overfished.

The amendment would manage all four species as a single complex with updated status determination criteria and new catch limits based on scientific guidance. NOAA Fisheries manages the deep-water grouper fishery as a combined complex rather than setting limits for each species individually because the fish are commonly caught at similar depths and often on the same fishing trips.

Under the proposal, the overfishing limit for the complex would be set at 731,035 pounds, while the acceptable biological catch and overall annual catch limit would be set at 555,026 pounds beginning in 2025 and continuing through 2028 and beyond.

The proposed allocation would give 10.21% of the annual catch limit, or 56,668 pounds, to the recreational sector. The commercial sector would receive about 89.79%, or 498,000 pounds. The commercial quota would then be reduced by 4% to 478,000 pounds to allow for flexibility within the Individual Fishing Quota program.

The amendment also proposes changes to recreational accountability measures. If the three-year average recreational landings exceed the recreational annual catch limit and the overall complex catch limit is also exceeded, NOAA Fisheries would shorten the following year's recreational fishing season by the amount necessary to prevent exceeding the limit again.

Officials said the measures are expected to reduce harvest of deep-water grouper species and help end overfishing of yellowedge grouper while maintaining access to the fishery.

Public comments on the amendment and its proposed rule are open through May 4. Both the amendment and the proposed rule will be considered together when NOAA Fisheries develops a final rule. The notice of availability was published in the Federal Register as 91 FR 10360 on March 3.

For additional information, contact the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Sustainable Fisheries Division by phone at (727) 824-5305, by fax at (727) 824-5308 or online at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-58b-modifications-deep-water-grouper-management-measures.