News Releases

Reminder of New Requirements for Commercial Reef Fish Permitted Vessels

This NOAA Fishery Bulletin is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers: FB18-079 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: November 16, 2018 CONTACT: Sustainable Fisheries Division (727) 824-5305 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. One change requires all…

Gulf Council to Hold Public Hearings for Amendment 50 – State Management of Recreational Red Snapper

Gulf Council’s Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter-For-Hire Advisory Panel to Meet

Meeting Notice November 15, 2018   The Gulf Council’s Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter-For-Hire Advisory Panel to Meet, December 12   The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of it’s Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter-For-Hire Advisory Panel on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. The meeting will be held in the Council office…

Gulf Council’s Reef Fish Headboat Advisory Panel to Meet

Meeting Notice November 15, 2018   The Gulf Council’s Ad Hoc Reef Fish Headboat Advisory Panel to Meet, December 11   The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of it’s Ad Hoc Reef Fish Headboat Advisory Panel on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. The meeting will be held in the Council office…

Commercial Harvest of King Mackerel Reopens in the Western Zone

The following NOAA Fisheries Bulletin is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers: FB18-076 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: November 6, 2018 CONTACT: Lauren Waters, 727-824-5305, Lauren.Waters@noaa.gov WHAT/WHEN/WHERE: Commercial harvest of king mackerel in federal waters of the Western Zone will reopen for seven days in November 2018. Commercial harvestwill reopen at 12:01 am, local time,…

October 2018 Council Update

For Immediate Release October 30, 2018   The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Mobile, Alabama, October 22-25, 2018. The following is a brief summary of the Council’s actions: Cobia After hearing public comment at its October meeting in Mobile, Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council chose to modify the commercial…

Gulf Council Suggests Modifications to Cobia Minimum Size Limit

For Immediate Release October 25, 2018 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.   The Council selected to increase the cobia minimum size limit to 36 inches fork…

Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Awarded

For Immediate Release October 24, 2018   The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council presented the 2017 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award to Senior Conservation Enforcement Officer Kyle “Bull” Rabren with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Marine Resources Division.   The Council’s Officer of the Year award acknowledges service above…

Gulf Council will Convene its Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Advisory Panel

Meeting Notice October 18, 2018 The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene its Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Advisory Panel. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Gulf Council’s office, located at 4107 W. Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL…

Revised Reporting Requirements for Federal Seafood Dealers Through November 21, 2018

The following press release from NOAA Fisheries is provided as a courtesy to our subscribers: FB18-068 FISHERY BULLETIN ISSUE DATE: October 12, 2018 CONTACT: Catch Share Customer Support, (866) 425-7627 (option 2, 8am – 4:30pm EST), nmfs.ser.catchshare@noaa.gov KEY MESSAGE: Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida panhandle on October 10, 2018. NOAA Fisheries has determined that…