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Summary of Current Rulemaking

Federal red snapper regulations for the Gulf of Mexico were changed in the spring of 2007 through a NMFS Interim Rule and will expire at the end of March 2008.  Pending permanent regulations for federal waters of the Gulf have been approved and are awaiting final publication and would take effect when the Interim Rule expires.  These rules are intended to lower fishing mortality in the recreational and commercial sectors through various harvest restrictions.

The FWC approved draft rules that would match federal red snapper regulations at the September 2007 Commission meeting.  The Commission will be taking final action on these rules at their February 7, 2008 meeting in Panama City.  If approved, these rules would take effect April 1, 2008.  However, the implementation of these rules should be contingent upon implementation of the final federal regulations which are scheduled to published by the end of February 2008.  To keep current with these rule changes, visit www.myfwc.com/marine.