FAQs

1. What is the function of the Gulf Council?

   The Gulf Council is responsible for developing and monitoring fishery management plans to provide for the best use of the fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Council meets five times a year, rotating its meeting locations from Key West, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas. All meetings are open to the public and public participation is encouraged by the Council.   

2. How are members of the Council chosen?

3. What are the considerations involved in a fishery management plan?

4. Who advises the Council on developing fishery management plans?

5. What does a Fishery Management Plan do?

6. Where may one review a proposed Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico?

7. May a fisherman on a vessel with a commercial Reef Fish permit retain the recreational bag limit of a reef fish species when the commercial season or quota is closed?

8. May a recreational fisherman possess more than the daily bag limit if away from the dock for more than one day?

9. May a commercial fisherman retain a bag limit of reef fish as well as the allowed commercial quantity (applies when there is a commercial trip limit such as for red snapper or grouper)?

10. May a recreational fisherman possess both a federal and state bag limit of reef fish?

11. How does the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) process work?

12. What is the intercouncil boundary between the South Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico?