Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of America; Amendment 62

The Gulf Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 62 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf (FMP) (Amendment 62) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. If approved, Amendment 62 would, for Gulf of America (Gulf) red grouper, revise the catch limits and sector allocations. Additionally, Amendment 62 would remove the February 1 through March 31 shallow-water grouper (SWG) recreational seasonal closure in Gulf Federal waters seaward of the 20-fathom boundary. The purpose of Amendment 62 is to modify the catch limits and sector allocations of Gulf red grouper based on the best scientific information available, and to remove the recreational closed season for SWG seaward of the 20-fathom boundary.