The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a Framework Action to convert three Reef Fish and three Coastal Migratory Pelagic Historical Captain permits to standard federal for-hire Charter/Headboat Permits.

A previous Council action allowed the replacement of valid or renewable Gulf historical captain coastal migratory pelagics and reef fish permits with standard for-hire permits. To date, all eligible historical captain permits have been converted into standard for-hire permits. That action also allowed outstanding letters of eligibility for historical captain permits to be used to obtain a permit prior to May 21, 2020. Three entities took advantage of the opportunity to redeem their outstanding letters of eligibility, and each received both Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic historical captains permits. The Council has decided to allow those remaining six permits to be converted to standard for-hire permits.

The Framework Action to convert Historical Captain Permits into standard federal Charter/Headboat Permits will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation as soon as practicable.