NOAAFinal Rule
2025 Recreational Harvest Closure for Gulf Gag
EnvironmentAgriculture
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Summary
The federal government is closing recreational fishing for gag fish in the Gulf of Mexico effective immediately to protect the species from overfishing. Recreational anglers will no longer be allowed to catch and keep gag fish, though commercial fishing may continue under separate rules.
Key Points
- 1People fishing for fun in the Gulf of Mexico cannot catch or keep gag fish under this new rule
- 2The closure is meant to allow the gag fish population to recover after being overfished in recent years
- 3Recreational fishermen will need to follow these new restrictions or face potential fines and penalties
- 4Commercial fishing operations are not affected by this recreational closure and operate under different regulations
- 5NOAA (the federal ocean agency) made this decision based on scientific data showing the gag population is not healthy enough to sustain current fishing levels
Key Dates
Published
July 11, 2025
This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.
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