NOAA Fisheries

January 2021 Gulf Council Meeting Summary

red snapper

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually from January 25 – 28, 2021. During the meeting, the Council presented Sergeant Scott Dupre of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries with the 2019 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. The Council also heard a presentation on Deepwater Horizon Open…

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November/December Council Update

large red snapper being held by La Sea Grant and LDWF employees

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually on November 30 and December 1, 2020. The meeting began with a presentation from the NOAA Office of Atlantic Highly Migratory Species on its Draft Amendment 14, which considers creating a framework for establishing acceptable biological catch and annual catch limits…

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New Gulf For-Hire Electronic Reporting Requirements Begin January 2021

Educational materials are on their way to all permit holders and are available online  NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils are implementing the new Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in January 2021. The intent of the program is to provide more timely catch information…

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Final Rule Revises the Annual Catch Limit for Gray Snapper in the Gulf

fishing rods on a boat

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for gray snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. This rule reduces the annual catch limit for Gulf of Mexico gray snapper.  WHEN WILL THE RULE TAKE EFFECT: The rule becomes effective on December 17, 2020.  WHAT THIS MEANS: The final rule reduces the annual catch…

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Meeting Dates for Skimmer Turtle Excluder Device Reimbursement Program (STEDRP)

shrimp boat at sea

On April 1, 2021, skimmer vessels 40 feet in length and over will be required by federal law to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs). The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will operate the Skimmer Turtle Excluder Device Reimbursement Program (STEDRP), which will reimburse up to 60 percent of the…

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Greater Amberjack Management Listening Sessions

saltwater fish caught on charter trip hanging on sign

Greater Amberjack is an important recreational and commercial fish species in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions. To address management and stakeholder concerns about the Greater Amberjack fisheries in both regions, Congress authorized funding of $10 million for a multi-year Greater Amberjack Research Program to be implemented through…

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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…

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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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