View Rule

This rule would implement a framework action developed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) to provide federal for-hire operators in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) an opportunity to replace their reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic historical captain permits with standard Gulf charter/headboat permits. Historical captain permits were issued to qualifying captains when the federal for-hire permits for those fisheries became limited access in 2002. Unlike standard Gulf charter/headboat permits, historical captain permits are not transferable and require the endorsement holder to be on the vessel.  The Council previously took action to allow for the conversion of historical captain permits in 2018 and all eligible historical captain permits were converted after the final rule implementing that action became effective in 2020.  This rule would allow for the conversion of remaining six historical captain permits.