View Rule

The Gulf Council is developing this routine proposed fishery management plan amendment to address the expiration of the federal shrimp permit moratorium in the Gulf of America (Gulf). The moratorium, first established for 10 years through Amendment 13 to the Shrimp FMP and then renewed for another 10 years through Amendment 17A to the Shrimp FMP, is set to expire on October 26, 2026. The moratorium was implemented to create stability and prevent overcapacity in the Gulf shrimp fishery. This action would extend the moratorium indefinitely by creating a federal limited access permit for commercial shrimp vessels in the Gulf. Permits would continue to be transferrable, allowing for entry to and exit from the shrimp fishery. Review of the limited access permit would occur ten years after implementation of the amendment or as otherwise deemed necessary by the Gulf Council. The specification of permit requirements is consistent with the authority in sections 303(b)(1) and (6) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; permit and limited access system requirements). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is issuing this proposed rule consistent with the authority in section 304(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.