NOAA Fisheries Extends an Exempted Fishing Permit to Evaluate a Management Strategy for Red Grouper in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

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.

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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