Should Florida allow a limited harvest of goliath groupers, protected in state waters since 1990? That’s the question at a series of meetings seeking public comment on the possibility that Florida could soon approve a limited harvest in state waters.

Divers have been well-represented so far at meetings that began July 31 in Lake Worth, Florida. Sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, meetings resume Weds. Aug. 16 and Thurs. Aug. 17 in Pensacola and Panama City, regions popular with divers. (Below is a complete schedule of the nine remaining opportunities for public comment; after Thursday’s Panama City gathering, meetings resume Oct. 9 in Jacksonville.) The state expects to make a decision on the question in or around December.

The IUCN Red List describes Atlantic goliath grouper as “critically endangered,” but goliaths are not listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act nor as an imperiled species on Florida state listings, FWC spokesperson Amanda Nalley told scubadiving.com. The FWC “believes a limited harvest in South Florida is unlikely to harm the population based on current data,” Nalley said, but federal and state officials do not necessarily agree about the quality of that data. A grouper population assessment in 2016 showed that abundance of goliaths was relatively high in South Florida; however, in the final step of the review process, “the assessment was rejected by an independent review panel of scientists for use in federal management due to a lack of data on abundance outside of South Florida throughout their historic range,” Nalley said. FWC can still use that assessment to guide management decisions in state waters.

Federal fisheries management is regulated by different “councils” for Gulf and Atlantic management; in 2011 the Atlantic council asked the FWC to try to “move beyond the moratorium” because the species was increasing in abundance in those waters. Attempted stock assessments for goliath grouper in 2004 and 2010 also were rejected by their review panels and cannot be used for federal management. FWC believes a limited harvest “could be an opportunity to gather some additional data and fill in some of the unknowns on goliath grouper,” the spokesperson said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission goliath grouper public workshops (each from 5 to 8 p.m. local time):

Aug 16: Pensacola, Sanders Beach – Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 S. I St.
Aug. 17: Panama City, Bland Conference Center, 4750 Collegiate Drive.
Oct. 9: Jacksonville, Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd.
Oct. 10: Titusville, American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, 6350 Horizon Drive.
Oct. 11: Stuart, Flagler Place, 201 SW Flagler Ave.
Oct. 12: Davie, Old Davie School Historical Museum, 6650 Griffin Road.
Oct. 16: Pinellas Park, Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure, 9501 U.S. Highway 19 N.
Oct. 17: Port Charlotte, The Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron St.
Oct. 18: Naples, Collier County Public Library - South Regional, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway

Divers who cannot attend a meeting can comment at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.