Reef Fish

Gulf Council Seeks Applicants for its Scientific and Statistical Committees – Deadline Extended

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is seeking applicants for its Standing and Special Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC). Current members must reapply to be considered for future membership. The Council has one standing and eight special Scientific and Statistical Committees comprised of individuals who have expertise in stock…

Gulf Council Recommends Increasing 2021 Red Snapper Catch Limits and Calibrating Recreational Landings Beginning in 2023

The Council chose to increase the 2021 red snapper overfishing limit (OFL) to 25,600,000 pounds whole weight, and the 2021 acceptable biological catch (ABC) to 15,400,000 pounds whole weight, as recommended by the Scientific and Statical Committee (SSC). The revised 2021 red snapper catch limits are as follows: The…

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Adds 14 Additional Reefs

reef fish swimming in Flower Banks; photo from NOAA

The 14 additional reefs and banks are officially part of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). As of March 22, 2021, FGBNMS encompasses 17 reefs and banks located approximately 80-125 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. These banks are a combination of small underwater mountains, ridges, troughs, and…

2021 Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season Announcement

The 2021 red snapper fishing season for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish permits is 63 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, 2021, and will close at 12:01 a.m.,…

NOAA Fisheries Continues Weekly For-Hire Reporting Webinars

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office will host weekly question and answer webinar sessions to assist participants with program information and compliance. WHEN: The webinars are scheduled for Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30 PM, EST, from March 2 to March 30, 2021. The webinar will continue each Tuesday evening for as…

Multi-Day Trip Possession Limits Modified for Federally Permitted Charter/Headboat Vessels

Fishermen on a charter vessel or headboat who take a trip lasting more than one day, also known as a multi-day trip, can retain a second daily bag or vessel limit as long as they follow specific procedures. This final rule modifies the on-board multi-day possession limit of fish species…

The DESCEND Act of 2020 will go into effect in January 2022

photo of red snapper with barotrauma on descending device

The Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act of 2020) was signed into law on January 13, 2021. The new Act will require commercial and recreational vessels (including for-hire) to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to…

NOAA Conducting COVID 19 Impact Surveys

NOAA Fisheries and our partner, the University of Florida, are teaming up on a phone survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on commercial/for-hire fishing operations and on seafood dealers and processors. The phone survey is a follow-up to an earlier on-line survey conducted in July and August on economic…

January 2021 Gulf Council Meeting Summary

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…

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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