Key Messages:
- NOAA Fisheries is extending the exempted fishing permit (EFP) for Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium to evaluate the effectiveness of a management strategy that allows for increased retention of a reef fish species in areas prone to high discard mortality.
- The study is on-going in the eastern Gulf of Mexico with red grouper as the test species. Due to unforeseen vessel maintenance and loss of sea days from the recent hurricanes, Mote needs additional time to complete the sampling.
- The EFP allows the retention of 3,000 pounds of undersized red grouper harvested in federal Gulf of Mexico waters deeper than the 35-fathom depth contour on four federally permitted commercial reef fish bottom longline vessels. To date, there are 1,775 pounds remaining from the initial 3,000 pounds.
- The extension of the EFP through 2025 allows for the harvest of the remaining pounds.
- No other changes were made to the EFP.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts - Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time. Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
- Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
- South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
- Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
- Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office
Media Contact: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750
Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan, 727-385-5202
