Gulf of Mexico Fishing Closures to Occur in The Edges, Madison and Swanson, Steamboat Lumps Marine Reserves

NOAA has issued a warning to fishermen concerning Gulf of Mexico area closures prohibiting fishing from January 1 through April 30.

NOAA Fisheries Service reminds fishermen that the area known as “The Edges” in the Gulf of Mexico is closed to all fishing from January 1 through April 30 each year.

All commercial and recreational fishing or possession of fish managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is prohibited in the closed area.

Possession is allowed when transiting the area if gear is stowed in accordance with federal regulations. The intent of the closure is to protect gag and other groupers during their respective spawning seasons.

The boundaries of "The Edges" closed area are within lines drawn between the following coordinates:
Northwest corner = 28º 51’N, 85º 16’W
Northeast corner = 28º 51’N, 85º 04’W
Southwest corner = 28º 14’N, 84º 54’W
Southeast corner = 28º 14’N, 84º 42’W

NOAA Fisheries Service also reminds fishermen of other closed areas in the same region as “The Edges.” These sites, Madison and Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves were implemented in 2000 to also protect gag and other grouper species. They are closed year round to reef fish fishing, but fishing for species other than reef fish is allowed in these areas from May through October.

Possession of fish species prohibited from harvest in either area is only allowed aboard a vessel in transit with fishing gear stowed in accordance to federal regulations.

The boundaries of the marine reserves are within lines drawn between the following coordinates:

Madison and Swanson
Northwest corner = 29°17'N, 85°50'W
Northeast corner = 29°17'N, 85°38'W
Southwest corner = 29°06'N, 85°50'W
Southeast corner = 29°06'N, 85°38'W

Steamboat Lumps
Northwest corner = 28°14'N, 84°48'W
Northeast corner = 28°14'N, 84°37'W
Southwest corner = 28°03'N, 84°48'W
Southeast corner = 28°03'N, 84°37'W

Map Link:

source: GMFMC

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Gag Webinars

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has scheduled two webinars of the Gag Update Assessment work group to re-run the 2009 gag update assessment to address an incorrect size distribution estimate of undersized caught-and-released fish from the recreational fishery.

The re-run will also address a discrepancy between the estimated dead discards from the commercial gag fishery based on logbook reports and recent estimates of dead discards based on observer data. Re-running the update assessment with adjustments to these inputs may result in a revision to the catch limits needed to rebuild the stock.

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will review the results of the assessment re-run in January 2011. The Council will review the results along with the SSC recommendations during its meeting in February 2011.

The webinars are scheduled for December 6, 2010 and December 9, 2010. Both will begin at 9 am and conclude no later than 1 pm. During the first webinar, the work group and National Marine Fisheries Service assessment biologists will determine what changes to the assessment inputs are needed. During the second webinar, the work group will review the results of the assessment re-run.

 For information on how to register for the webinar, visit the Gulf Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org