S.O.F.A. Fishermen Resources & FAQ
Commercial Fishing • Gulf Fisheries Management • Regulations • Quotas • Legislative Resources
Southern Offshore Fishing Association (S.O.F.A.)
This resource is designed for commercial fishermen, elected officials, legislative staff, regulators, community leaders, seafood businesses, journalists and the public. It explains who makes fisheries decisions, where to find official regulations and quotas, and how fishermen can participate in the process.
Fishermen Resources
Use these official resources to verify current rules, quotas, permits, meetings and legislative information. Regulations and landings can change; always confirm current requirements with the responsible government agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Southern Offshore Fishing Association (S.O.F.A.) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting commercial fishermen, promoting fresh domestic seafood and advocating for responsible fisheries management.
S.O.F.A. works to protect both our fisheries and the people whose livelihoods depend upon them. We also help bring the firsthand experience of working fishermen into conversations with regulators, fisheries managers and policymakers.
S.O.F.A. advocates for commercial fishermen and the working waterfront communities that depend upon Gulf fisheries. Our roots are local, but fisheries management is regional and national.
Decisions affecting fishermen in Madeira Beach, Pinellas County and communities throughout Florida may involve officials and meetings across the five Gulf states or in Washington, D.C. Effective advocacy requires fishermen to have a voice wherever those decisions are being made.
Commercial fishing supports far more than individual boats. It supports vessel owners, captains, crews, fish houses, seafood dealers, processors, restaurants, markets, marine suppliers and working waterfront communities.
Protecting sustainable domestic fisheries helps preserve local jobs, coastal heritage and access to fresh American seafood.
Who Makes Fisheries Decisions?
There is no single organization responsible for every decision. Depending on the species, location and issue, management can involve NOAA Fisheries, the Gulf Fishery Management Council, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the U.S. Department of Commerce, Congress and other state and federal officials.
The first question in any fisheries issue should be: Who has jurisdiction?
The Gulf Fishery Management Council, commonly called the Gulf Council, is one of the regional fishery management councils established under federal law. It develops fishery management plans and recommends management measures for federally managed fisheries in the Gulf.
The Gulf management process involves Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Council meetings and the public process give fishermen and other stakeholders opportunities to participate before many decisions become final.
No. They work closely together but have different roles. The Gulf Council develops fishery management plans and management recommendations. NOAA Fisheries reviews and implements federal fisheries regulations through the federal rulemaking process.
Understanding where an issue is in that process helps fishermen and policymakers know who needs to hear from them and when.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages Florida fish and wildlife resources and administers numerous state fishing regulations, commercial licenses and related requirements. Fishermen should consult FWC for applicable Florida requirements and NOAA Fisheries for applicable federal requirements.
Congress establishes the federal statutory framework under which marine fisheries are managed. Members of Congress can introduce or amend legislation, conduct oversight, communicate with federal agencies, request information, advocate for constituents and support fisheries research and data collection.
Regulations, Quotas & Science
The controlling federal regulations for many Gulf fisheries are contained in 50 CFR Part 622 — Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America and South Atlantic. Fishermen should use official government resources when verifying legal requirements. NOAA summaries are useful, but the official federal regulatory text controls when determining legal requirements.
NOAA Fisheries maintains current commercial fisheries information, including landings and quota monitoring for fisheries subject to Annual Catch Limits. Because reported landings and quota status can change throughout a fishing year, S.O.F.A. directs fishermen to NOAA rather than reproducing changing quota numbers on this page.
Individual Fishing Quota programs are used in portions of the federally managed Gulf commercial reef fish fisheries. Eligible participants use allocation and must comply with applicable federal IFQ requirements. Because changes to IFQ programs can have major economic consequences, commercial fishermen have an important interest in proposed changes to these programs.
OFL means Overfishing Limit and is associated with a scientific estimate of fishing mortality that should not be exceeded. ABC means Acceptable Biological Catch and accounts for scientific uncertainty. ACL means Annual Catch Limit and is a limit on the amount of fish that may be harvested under the management system.
Fishermen may also hear terms such as ACT (Annual Catch Target), commercial quota, recreational allocation and accountability measures. These numbers can directly affect how much fishermen may harvest and when fisheries may close.
A stock assessment is a scientific analysis used to evaluate the condition of a fish population. Assessments can incorporate commercial and recreational landings, biological sampling, surveys, fishing effort, age and growth information and other available data.
S.O.F.A. supports sound science and believes the observations and experience of fishermen who spend their lives on the water should also have a meaningful place in the management process.
How Fisheries Policy Is Made
A federal fisheries action can move through several stages. The exact process varies, but a typical path may include:
Fisheries Issue
Scientific Analysis
Gulf Council Committees & Advisory Panels
Management Alternatives
Public Meetings & Fishermen’s Input
Gulf Council Action
NOAA Fisheries Review
Proposed Federal Rule
Public Comment
Final Rule
Yes. Public participation is an important part of the fisheries management process. Council meetings, hearings and comment periods can provide opportunities for fishermen, seafood businesses and other stakeholders to provide input. S.O.F.A. also participates in fisheries meetings to help make sure the experiences of working commercial fishermen are heard.
Because decisions affecting Florida fishermen are not always made in Florida. The Gulf fisheries management process is regional, and important discussions and Council meetings take place throughout the Gulf states. If a decision could affect the livelihood of our fishermen, S.O.F.A. believes the commercial fishing community needs representation in the room.
For Elected Officials & Legislative Staff
A fishing regulation rarely affects only a boat. Economic impacts can extend to commercial fishing families, vessel owners, captains, crews, fish houses, seafood dealers, processors, restaurants, seafood markets, marine businesses and working waterfronts. Fisheries policy should therefore be understood as both a natural-resource issue and an economic issue.
Generally, a state legislator cannot directly change a federal fisheries regulation. However, state legislators and other elected officials can communicate with federal officials, support fisheries research and data collection, protect working waterfronts, address state-level issues and help ensure fishing communities are represented in government discussions.
Absolutely. S.O.F.A. welcomes communication with elected officials, legislative staff, regulators, researchers and community leaders seeking a better understanding of commercial fishing and Gulf fisheries. We can help provide the perspective of working fishermen and connect policymakers with people who have firsthand experience on the water.
Don’t just learn about the fishermen. Talk to the fishermen.
Getting Involved
If you are dealing with a regulation, quota, permit, fisheries management proposal or another issue affecting your livelihood, contact S.O.F.A. You do not need to know which agency is responsible before reaching out.
Part of effective advocacy is identifying who has jurisdiction, who is making the decision, where the decision is in the process, when fishermen can provide input and who needs to hear from the fishing community.
Buy domestic seafood and ask where your seafood comes from. Support local seafood markets, restaurants serving domestic seafood, fishing businesses and working waterfronts. Public participation also matters. Healthy fisheries and a strong commercial fishing industry should be goals that work together.
Need Help Finding the Right Agency?
Government fisheries management is complicated. Finding the right person should not be. Whether you are a commercial fisherman, seafood business, elected official, legislative staff member, regulator, researcher, journalist or concerned resident, contact the Southern Offshore Fishing Association. S.O.F.A. can help point you toward the agency, council, regulation or policymaker involved in the issue.
Local fishermen deserve a voice in the decisions that determine the future of their industry.
