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.
After hearing public comment at its October meeting in Mobile, Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council chose to modify the commercial and recreational minimum size limit for Gulf cobia in federal waters.
Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico closed at 12:01 am, local time, on October 7, 2018. Commercial harvest will remain closed through the end of the year.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is transitioning its federal fishing regulations to the Fish Rules mobile application.
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Corpus Christi, Texas, August 20-23, 2018. The Council elected Dr. Tom Frazier as its Chair and Dale Diaz as its Vice Chair. The following is a brief summary of the Council’s actions: Coral This week, the Council took final action on…
NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule modifying commercial and recreational mutton snapper and commercial gag management measures in the Gulf of Mexico. The rule will: Modify the annual catch limit for mutton snapper Remove the annual catch target Decrease the mutton snapper recreational bag limit Increase the mutton snapper commercial…
KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries announces a reduction to the annual catch limit for vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The annual catch limit is the maximum amount of vermilion snapper that can be landed each year. NOAA Fisheries is also specifying a proxy for the maximum sustainable yield,…