Tagged as: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Gear Monitoring Team Spring 2023 TED Outreach & Courtesy Inspection Schedule

raised TEDs and nets

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Gear Monitoring Team (GMT) released the following schedule for their Turtle Excluder Device (TED) outreach & courtesy inspections for Louisiana. March 1, 2023 Louisiana Fisheries Forward Summit 2023 The Pontchartrain Center – 4545 Williams Blvd, Kenner, LA 70065 The GMT will have a…

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Loan Opportunity Info Available for Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Participants

school of tuna in blue water

NOAA Fisheries is sending this notification to clarify information about loan opportunities through the federal Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) for Gulf of Mexico IFQ participants. The federal FFP is a direct government loan program that receives an annual loan authority from Congress to provide long-term loans to the commercial fishing…

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Revisions to Gulf Cobia Catch Limits, Possession Limits, and Size Limits

Fisherman holding a cobia on boat

Key Messages: NOAA Fisheries announces implementation of the final rule for Amendment 32 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region.   When Rule Will Take Effect: Regulations become effective November 21, 2022.   What This Means: Amendment 32: Modifies…

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Venting Tools or Descending Devices Required for All Fishermen Targeting Reef Fish

photo of red snapper with barotrauma on descending device

The Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act of 2020) was signed into law on January 13, 2021. The new Act will require commercial, for-hire, and private recreational vessels to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to…

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NOAA Announces a Temp Rule Authorizing Tow Times in Lieu of TEDS in Some Areas

shrimp boat Grand Isle Louisiana

NOAA Fisheries is publishing a temporary rule to allow shrimp fishers to use limited tow times as an alternative to Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in specific Louisiana state waters from 91° 23’ West longitude eastward to the Louisiana/Mississippi border, and seaward out three nautical miles. This temporary rule is effective…

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NOAA Fisheries Announces a New and Improved Catch Shares Online System

gray triggerfish

NOAA Fisheries is currently developing an updated Catch Shares Online System. The new system will be hosted in a cloud application that should decrease the unexpected down-times in the future. As development of the new Catch Shares Online System is underway, NOAA Fisheries will be looking for volunteers, both shareholder…

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Modifications to the Commercial Greater Amberjack Trip Limit and Boundary for Reef Fish Management

greater amberjack

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule modifying the greater amberjack commercial trip limit in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and adjusting the state/federal boundary of several areas for reef fish management. WHEN THIS RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT: Regulations will be effective May 14, 2020. WHAT THIS MEANS: The greater amberjack…

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NOAA: Turtle Excluder Device Required for all Skimmer Trawl Vessels 40 Feet and Greater

turtle excluder device with turtle escaping

In an effort to strengthen sea turtle conservation efforts, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule to require all skimmer trawl vessels 40 feet and greater in length to use turtle excluder devices (TEDs) in their nets.  A TED is a device that allows sea turtles to escape from trawl nets. …

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