Domestic grouper in Florida has helped support and shape the state and tourism growth in feeding the masses. As our population continues to grow, and people continue to eat out, new regulations have been implemented to further protect this valuable fishery and industry of our domestic waters and state.
Import grouper is readily available from Mexico, where they still adhere to seasonal closures to regulate their waters, but doesn’t seem to be enough to protect their local waters from the pressure on this industry. Time will tell for Mexico, but the US is unwilling to take that risk and has moved forward faster to protect this population.
Sourcing domestic grouper in South Florida is popular via ll methods of catch: SPEAR, HOOK and LINE, and LONG LINING.
IQF quota and seasonal Closures
Seasonal/availability: With IFQs-there is no “SEASONALITY” in the local GULF WATERS as we have moved to a QUOTA system. The US used to close every spawning season for the shallow water grouper, FEB-APRIL, like Mexico still does, but the US imposed QUOTA following their data that showed the closures were not enough to sustain the population based on the pressure to their species. In US Gulf waters, all fishermen MUST fish with QUOTA (either owned by them or leased to them) in order to pull fish out of the waters. Fishermen, wholesalers, and local marine law enforcement have all agreed to endorse this system in order to help it succeed in the long run.
In 2007, SW Florida adopted the Individual Fish Quota (IQF) to help track and maintain the species better. Under this system, allocations are given to all QUOTA holders for a certain amount of fish to be caught for the year. If you do not have QUOTA or lease QUOTA-you cannot receive the fish directly from the fishermen. To see if your monger IS a certified dealer to receive IFQ fish check: http://secatchshares.fisheries.noaa.gov.
You can also check to see whether your monger OWNS their own QUOTA: an imperative piece of the game. SAMMYS SEAFOOD is a certified IFQ dealer AND a quota holder. Quotas last one year and renew annually. In 2021, commercial fishing lost over 200,00# of black grouper quota to the recreational fishing industry, a powerful political group.
| CODE | Type | Size | Characteristics | Cost |
| GR-RG | Red | 3-12# | Shallow water, most abundant | $ |
| GR-BLK | Black | 5-30# (gag);10-10# (carbs) | Shallow water | $$$ |
| GR-SCA | Scamp | 2-10# | Shallow water | $$$ |
| GR-YED | Yellowedge | 5-15# | Deep water | $$$ |
| GR-BR | Snowy brown | 5# up | Deep water | $$ |
| GR-KM | Kitty Mitchells | 5# up | Deep water | $$ |
