FAQs

1. What is the function of the Gulf 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?

        The steps involved in FMP development are as follows:

1. The Scoping Process - Once the Council identifies fisheries that should be managed, has coordinated input on those species, as well as proposed management measures from scientists and the public, a scoping document is developed. The scoping document outlines the problem to be solved, presents possible management goals and measures, and is published in the Federal Register for discussion at public hearings and Council meetings.

2. The Draft FMP - Council staff works with the Council, the various advisory committees, and NMFS staff to draft the FMP and amendments. Each Council must follow ten National Standards for drafting conservation and management measures:

1. prevent overfishing while achieving optimum yield,

2. base recommendations on the best scientific information available,

3. manage each stock (and interrelated stocks) as a unit throughout its range,

4. refrain from discriminating between residents of States and ensure that all allocations are fair and equitable,

5. promote efficiency in the utilization of fishery resources (but economic allocation cannot be the sole purpose),

6. take into account variations in and contingencies among fisheries,

7. minimize costs and avoid unnecessary duplication,

8. take into account the importance of fishery resources and economic impacts to fishing communities,

9. minimize bycatch and the mortality of bycatch, and

10. promote the safety of human life at sea.

The Secretary of Commerce issues advisory guidelines based on the same National Standards to assist in the development of FMPs. NMFS relies on the National Standard guidelines when reviewing and considering for approval Council management recommendations.

3. The Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Phase - In the EA or EIS phases of each draft FMP, the Council examines different management options, conducts public hearings and solicits public comment, and settles on a "preferred alternative." At the end of the comment period, the Council reviews public comments and either approves the FMP, or starts over again with a new suite of options or another set of hearings. NMFS provides scientific advice and reviews the plans to make sure they meet legal requirements.

4. Submission of the Draft FMP to the Secretary of Commerce - Draft FMPs passing the EA and EIS Phase are submitted to the Secretary of Commerce. The documents then go through another process for soliciting public input. Proposed regulations are published in the Federal Register with an opportunity for additional public comment. The Secretary of Commerce then considers the final decision and chooses whether to approve, disapprove, partially approve, or partially disapprove the proposals. If FMPs are approved, the final regulations are published in the Federal Register. NMFS implements the regulations and the U.S. Coast Guard provides enforcement authority.

    A flow chart depicting the FMP process can be found here.

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

         of Mexico?