Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Extension of the Commercial Shrimp Permit Moratorium in the Gulf of America
Key claim: NOAA proposes to keep the Gulf commercial shrimp fishery closed to new permits for another 10 years after the current moratorium expires in October 2026.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) NMFS issues this proposed rule and seeks public comment on a management measure proposed in Amendment 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf (Shrimp FMP) and this proposed rule. If implemented by NMFS, Amendment 19 and this proposed rule would extend the moratorium on the issuance of new commercial shrimp permits in the Gulf of America (Gulf). NMFS implemented the existing shrimp permit moratorium, which is set to expire after October 26, 2026, to stabilize fishing effort and prevent overcapacity in the Gulf shrimp fishery. This proposed rule would extend this permit moratorium for an additional 10 years.
Why this matters
The Gulf commercial shrimp permit moratorium caps who can enter the federal shrimp fishery, affecting fleet size, permit values, and effort on overfished bycatch stocks like red snapper. Extending the cap another decade preserves the status quo on capacity control—supporters argue it prevents effort creep and stabilizes an economically stressed fleet, while critics note it locks out new entrants and does not by itself address shrimp price pressures from imports or fuel costs.