The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission was established by an act of Congress (P.L. 81-66) in 1949 as a compact of the five Gulf States. Its charge is:
"to promote better utilization of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the seaboard of the Gulf of America, by the development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such fisheries and the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries from any cause."
Upcoming Meetings
GSMFC 77th Annual Meeting
Oct 12-Oct 15, 2026
FL
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
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GSMFC 78th Annual Meeting
Oct 18-Oct 21, 2027
TX
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
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GSMFC 79th Annual Meeting
Oct 16-Oct 19, 2028
LA
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
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GSMFC 80th Annual Meeting
Oct 15-Oct 18, 2029
MS
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
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GSMFC 81st Annual Meeting
Oct 14-Oct 17, 2030
AL
The annual meeting of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to discuss a variety of issues related to fisheries in the Gulf of America.
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Latest Publications
SEAMAP Strategic Plan 2026 - 2030
The Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) has been committed to collecting and disseminating fishery-independent data to inform United States fishery management efforts since its inception in 1981. The program is composed of three regional units: the Gulf of America, the South Atlantic, and the Caribbean.
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Annual Report to the Technical Coordinating Committee, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
SEAMAP Subcommittee Report to the GSMFC Technical Coordinating Committee - October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. A detailed summary of FY2025 program accomplishments, emphasizing survey design, material collected data dissemination, budget information, and future survey activities
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Seventy-Fifth Annual Report 2024
The Commission’s annual report is a comprehensive review of the activities in the Gulf region related to the management of marine fisheries. The report includes specifics on Commission programs as well as those of our five state agency partners, NOAA Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. This edition also includes a section on the early history of the Commission commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary.
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Gulf Commercial Fisheries Summit Report
The Gulf Commercial Fisheries Summit brought together more than 60 stakeholders from across all five Gulf states, including commercial fishermen, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, supply chain participants, non-governmental organizations, and state and federal agencies. Hosted by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, Louisiana Sea Grant, and Texas Sea Grant, the Gulf Commercial Fisheries Summit provided a forum for collaboration, information-sharing, and strategy development to strengthen the Gulf’s commercial seafood industry.
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Awareness, Attitudes, Percepions, and Use of Best Release Practices by Recreational Reef Anglers in the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) 2024 Update
The primary purpose of this study was to obtain baseline information from Gulf of Mexico recreational anglers about reef fishing behavior, awareness of barotrauma, and best fishing practices. This report contains the results from the second survey conducted in November 2024 to measure any changes from
the first results, in addition to learning what impact the Return ‘Em Right program had on respondents.
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Aquaculture Program
The purpose of the Aquaculture Program is to encourage and create partnerships between the seafood industry and community partners in an effort to develop, validate and deploy economically and environmentally sustainable aquatic farming techniques and regional business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood production.
Read More »Fisheries Information Network
A cooperative program for the collection, management, and dissemination of statistical data and information on the Gulf Region's commercial and recreational fisheries.
Read More »Interjurisdictional Fisheries Program
Designed to develop management plans for transboundary stocks that migrate freely through state and federal jurisdictions.
Read More »Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program
A state/federal/university program for the collection, management and dissemination of fishery-independent data and information in the southeastern United States.
Read More »Sport Fish Restoration Administrative Program
Designed to provide coordination of the recreational fisheries programs in the five gulf states.
Read More »Fisheries Disaster Recovery Program
Aimed at improving the public perception and confidence in Gulf of America seafood following various man-made and natural disasters.
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