The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met last week in Destin, Florida. The following is a brief overview of what was accomplished: Data Collection Advisory Panel The Council populated its Data Collection Advisory Panel (AP) and created its charge. The charge is “To review and evaluate data collection and…
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a Framework amendment that considers reducing the commercial trip limit for greater amberjack. The Council decided to reduce the trip limit to 1000 pounds gutted weight. When 75% of the annual catch target is met, the trip limit will…
NOAA Fisheries announces federal waters from 9 to 200 nautical miles off Texas will close to shrimp trawling 30 minutes after official sunset, local time, on May 15, 2019, corresponding to the time Texas closes its state waters to shrimp trawling. Federal waters off Texas are west of the line…
At its meeting this week in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action to modify the red grouper annual catch limits and annual catch targets. The Council chose to set the red grouper annual catch limits and annual catch targets based on landings from the…
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met this week in Biloxi, Mississippi and took final action on Reef Fish Amendment 50: State Management for Recreational Red Snapper.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Biloxi, Mississippi, and took final action on Shrimp Amendment 18. The Council selected to reduce the allowable shrimp effort to 60% below the baseline years and revise the framework procedure to allow future effort reduction goals through the standard open framework…
WHAT/WHEN: The 2019 red snapper fishing season for federally permitted for-hire vessels is 62 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Season dates are: Federally Permitted For-Hire Vessels: June 1, 2019, 12:01 a.m., local time, until August 2, 2019, at 12:01 a.m., local time. Private Anglers Note: The…
KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries published a final rule to increase the commercial and recreational annual catch limits and recreational annual catch targets for Gulf of Mexico red snapper, as well as reduce the stock annual catch limit for west Florida hogfish, based on recent stock assessments. WHEN THE RULE WILL…
WHAT/WHEN: Commercial gillnet harvest of king mackerel in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone closed at 12 p.m., (local time) on February 8, 2019. Commercial gillnet harvest will reopen at 6:00 a.m., (local time) on January 21, 2020. WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING: The 2018/2019 commercial gillnet…
KEY MESSAGE: In June 2018, NOAA Fisheries implemented new requirements to improve compliance and increase management flexibility in the Gulf of Mexico individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs.