Fishery Management

NOAA Fisheries Announces Increase to Red Grouper Catch Limits in the Gulf

red grouper swimming along sea bottom

Key Message: NOAA Fisheries announces the final rule for a framework amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. This framework amendment and final rule will revise the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and annual catch targets for Gulf of Mexico…

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Inshore Shrimp Season to Close June 30, 2022, in State Inside Waters

deckhand unloading shrimp from skimmer net on boat deck

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2022 spring inshore shrimp season will close at official sunset on Thursday, June 30, 2022, in all state inside waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line See the map above detailing this closure or click here….

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Gulf Council Recommends Modifying King Mackerel Catch Limits

king mackerel swimming

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on Framework Amendment 11 to Modify Gulf group king mackerel Overfishing Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and Annual Catch Limits (ACL). The recent SEDAR 38 Update stock assessment determined that Gulf king mackerel is not overfished and is not experiencing…

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NOAA Fisheries Approves New Criteria for GOM Reef Fish and Red Drum Management

Man holding mutton snapper on boat

NOAA Fisheries approved new criteria to inform Gulf of Mexico reef fish and red drum management. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council recommended these criteria changes for two amendments, Amendment 48 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Amendment 5 to the…

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LWFC Adopts Notice of Intent to Create Passive Gear Marking Regulations

two fishermen holding large hoop net with catfish

On May 5, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to create a rule regarding marking nets and traps in freshwater. The proposed rule mirrors the existing saltwater rule in Title 76 and would apply to gill nets, trammel nets, hoop nets, slat traps, and…

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LDWF Announces Opening Dates for the Spring Inshore Shrimp Season

2022 shrimp opening zones map

Today, May 5, 2022, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the opening dates for the state inshore waters based on information provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists and public comments. The Commission action sets the opening date of the spring inshore shrimp season as follows:…

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Shrimp Season to Open in Remaining State Outside Waters on April 25

Map designating opening area of outside waters to shrimp

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the portion of state outside waters between Mound Point on Marsh Island and Freshwater Bayou Canal shall reopen to shrimping at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022. The opening area is defined as follows: The eastern boundary line originates on…

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April 2022 Council Update

Gulf of Mexico with shrimp boats in far distance

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) met in Gulf Shores, Alabama April 4-7, 2022. The Council made preliminary appointments to its Coral, Data Collection, and Spiny Lobster Advisory Panels. Final appointments will be made during the June Council meeting after fishery violation background checks are completed. The Council also named the…

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Commercial Large Coastal Shark Possession Limit Increases to 55

blacktip shark

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the daily possession limit for commercially harvested large coastal sharks (great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, blacktip shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner shark, and tiger shark) is increasing from 45 to 55 per…

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NOI To Set Annual Commercial And Recreational Closed Season For Flounder

box of several flounder and one black drum

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to set an annual closed season for the recreational and commercial harvest of Southern Flounder from October 15 through November 30 of each year. Modifications in this rule create one statewide closed season for Southern Flounder…

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