Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

October Gulf Council Update

red snapper

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually on October 26-28, 2020. The Council began by populating its Council Committee Roster for October 2020 – August 2021. The meeting agenda was modified to allow Council members, fishermen, and the broader stakeholder community time to prepare for the anticipated landfall…

Read More

Recreational Harvest of Gray Triggerfish in Federal Waters Will Reopen September 1, and Close October 26, 2020

gray triggerfish

Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) will reopen at 12:01 am, local time, on September 1, 2020, and close at 12:01 am, local time, on October 26, 2020. Recreational harvest will reopen in the Gulf for the 2021 fishing season at 12:01 am,…

Read More

Modifications to Charter Vessel and Headboat Electronic Reporting Requirements

saltwater fish caught on charter trip hanging on sign

NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule to modify reporting requirements for the owners or operators of vessels with Charter Vessel/Headboat federal permits for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish or Gulf coastal migratory pelagics. WHEN THE RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT: The final rule will be effective on January 5,…

Read More

Gulf Council Asks for Recommendations on Ways to Reduce Burdens on Domestic Fishing

school of red snapper swimming in blue water

The President of the United States recently signed an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. The Executive Order aims to improve the competitiveness of our domestic seafood industry, put more Americans to work, and place more sustainably sourced and safe-to-eat seafood products on our families’ tables….

Read More

June 2020 Council Update

hooks on a basket

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually June 15 – 18, 2020.  The following is a brief overview of what was accomplished. Fishing Access and Possession Allowances in Madison-Swanson and Steamboat Lumps Marine Protected Areas The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a document…

Read More

Gulf Council Asks for Information on Greater Amberjack

saltwater fish caught on charter trip hanging on sign

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council would like to gain a better understanding of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico. It is seeking information from anglers and divers about what they have observed, including any “strange things,” that scientists and managers may need to know. Scientists are currently…

Read More

Final Rule to Replace Historical Captain Permit

This final rule allows eligible historical captains the opportunity to replace their historical captain permits with standard federal charter/headboat for-hire permits for the reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic fisheries.  An eligible captain is one that had a valid, non-expired, or renewable historical captain permit as of October 25, 2018,…

Read More

2020 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season Announced

WHAT/WHEN: The 2020 red snapper fishing season for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish permits is 62 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The season for federally permitted for-hire vessels will begin at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2020, and will close at 12:01…

Read More

Final Rule to Increase the Annual Catch Target for the Red Snapper For-hire Component

Thu Bui holding caught red snapper

KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule to maintain a reduced buffer between the recreational for hire component annual catch limit (ACL) and recreational annual catch target (ACT) for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) red snapper.  The reduced buffer would result in an increased ACT, which determines the length of…

Read More

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes to Allowable Fishing Effort in the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery

fishing boat at sea

KEY MESSAGE: • NOAA Fisheries announces an increase in the allowable amount of commercial shrimp trawl fishing effort in certain federal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. • The increased allowable effort represents a relative maximum increase in Gulf-wide shrimp fishing effort of 21 percent. However, there is no…

Read More