For Immediate Release
April 20, 2023
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold four in-person and two webinar public hearings to solicit public comments on Draft Reef Fish Amendment 56: Modifications to Catch Limits, Sector Allocation, and Recreational Fishing Seasons for Gulf of Mexico Gag.
The most recent stock assessment (SEDAR 72 2022), which included new recreational catch and effort data and an ecosystem-based red tide analysis, determined that gag grouper is overfished and experiencing overfishing. The Council is obligated to end overfishing and develop a rebuilding plan for gag grouper, which will greatly reduce catch limits during the rebuilding period.
Amendment 56 considers modifying gag status determination criteria, including the maximum sustainable yield, maximum fishing mortality threshold, and optimum yield. Collectively, these values inform the overfishing and overfished status of the stock. The Amendment also considers modifying gag catch limits, the allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors, and the gag rebuilding timeline. Finally, Amendment 56 considers modifying the recreational fishing season and accountability measures.
The public hearings will begin at 6:00 PM and conclude no later than 9:00 PM, local time. Dates and locations are as follows:
In-Person Hearings
Cedar Key, Florida
May 15, 2023
FWRI Lab
552 1st Street
Cedar Key, FL 32652
Destin, Florida
May 15, 2023
Destin Community Center
101 Stahlman Avenue
Destin, FL 32541
Ft. Myers, Florida
May 15, 2023
Courtyard by Marriott
10050 Gulf Center Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33913
St. Petersburg, Florida
May 17, 2023
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 8th Ave SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Virtual Hearings
May 8, 2023
May 30, 2023