Gulf of Mexico deep-water grouper fishing limits get tighter, again

US regulators are proposing new, lower catch limits for deep-water grouper in the Gulf of Mexico. This means both commercial and recreational fishers will be allowed to catch fewer fish each year.

The Gulf of Mexico's deep-water grouper population has been shrinking, and regulators have been trying to manage it for years. These new rules are another attempt to keep the fish population from collapsing entirely. If the population continues to decline, it could mean even stricter limits or outright bans on fishing these species in the future.