NOAA Fisheries

Recreational Gag Grouper State, Federal Fishing Season to Close October 19

gag group La Fisheries Forward

The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an emergency season modification for the recreational Gag Grouper fishery, which closes the fishery at 12:01 a.m. on October 19. The Gag Grouper recreational season was originally scheduled to close on November 9, 2023.  The fishery will remain closed until…

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Commercial Season for Greater Amberjack in Louisiana Waters to Close on June 23, 2023, Until January 1, 2024

greater amberjack

The commercial season for Greater Amberjack in Louisiana waters will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 23, 2023, and will remain closed until January 1, 2024. The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Shadoin, following notification by NOAA Fisheries that the Federal waters of…

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Recreational Closure of Red Grouper Harvest in Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico

red grouper swimming along sea bottom

NOAA Fisheries Bulletin What/When/Where: Recreational harvest of red grouper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) will close at 12:01 am, local time, on July 21, 2023. Red grouper recreational harvest will be closed until the 2024 fishing year begins on January 1, 2024.   Why The Red Grouper…

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Recreational Gag Grouper State, Federal Fishing Season to Remain Closed until September 1, 2023

gag group La Fisheries Forward

The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an emergency season modification for the recreational Gag Grouper fishery, which closes the fishery through August 31, 2023, and runs the season from September 1, 2023, through November 9, 2023.  The Gag Grouper recreational season was originally scheduled to open…

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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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January 2023 Council Meeting Summary

gray triggerfish

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) met in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from January 30 – February 2, 2023. The Council heard a presentation on the Return ‘Em Right project and received and update from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Wind Energy Development in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr….

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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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Notice of Intent to Reduce Cobia Recreational and Commercial Bag Limits

illustration of a cobia fish by Diane Rome Peebles

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to decrease the current 2 fish daily bag limit to 1 fish daily per person and establish a two fish per vessel / per day limit regardless of the number of trips for both recreational and commercial harvest….

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Extension of Emergency Measures Modify the Greater Amberjack Recreational Fixed Closed Season

greater amberjack

Key Message: NOAA Fisheries announces the extension of regulations to reduce the recreational harvest of greater amberjack. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council agreed NOAA Fisheries should extend emergency action while they develop long-term management measures to rebuild the greater amberjack population. How Long is the Emergency Rule Effective: The…

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Final Rule to Revise the Gulf Migratory Group King Mackerel Catch Limits

king mackerel swimming

Key Messages: NOAA Fisheries announces implementation of the final rule for Framework Amendment 11 under the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region. This rule modifies Gulf of Mexico Migratory Group king mackerel catch limits.   When Rule Will Take Effect: Regulations…

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