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INTERJURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES PROGRAM (IJF)
Since the 1970s, the GSMFC has had the responsibility of administrative
support and coordination of the Gulf State-Federal Fisheries Management
Program. This program was designed to develop management plans for transboundary
stocks that migrate freely through state and federal jurisdictions.
In 1986 that program was replaced with the Interjurisdictional Fisheries
Program. This program promotes interjurisdictional fisheries management
among the Gulf States through the cooperative development of fishery
management plans (FMPs). The states are requested to implement FMP recommendations
through consistent regulations wherever possible and to address research
and data needs with cooperative collection efforts. The GSMFC has completed
FMPs for menhaden, flounder, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, striped
bass, blue crab, oyster, black drum and striped mullet. The IJF Program
Coordinator is Steven J. VanderKooy and is assisted by Teri L. Freitas.
SOUTHEAST AREA MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
The Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) is a state/federal/university
program for the collection, management and dissemination of fishery-independent
data and information in the southeastern United States. The overall
program consists of three operational components: SEAMAP-Gulf of Mexico
(begun in 1981); SEAMAP-South Atlantic (implemented in 1983); and SEAMAP-Caribbean
(formed in 1988). The SEAMAP-Gulf component is coordinated through the
GSMFC. SEAMAP resource surveys include the Fall Shrimp/Groundfish Survey,
Spring Plankton Survey, Reef Fish Survey, Summer Shrimp/Groundfish Survey,
Fall Plankton Survey and plankton and environmental surveys. Publications
of the SEAMAP program include environmental and biological atlases of
the Gulf of Mexico for each year from 1983 through present. The
SEAMAP Program Coordinator is Jeffrey K. Rester and is assisted by Cheryl
R. Noble.
SPORT FISH RESTORATION ADMINISTRATIVE PROGRAM (SFRP)
The Sport Fish Restoration Administrative Program
(SFRP) was established by the GSMFC in 1987, under the authority of
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration
Program through the Administrative portion of that program's enabling
legislation. The primary goal of the program is to provide coordination
of the recreational fisheries programs in the five Gulf States. There
are four major categories of programs which are addressed, including
anadromous fish restoration, artificial reefs, fisheries data, and interstate
fisheries management. Efforts focused on striped bass restoration through
the GSMFC since 1985 have resulted in the development of a FMP, including
a regulatory amendment, establishment of sampling guidelines for all
life stages of striped bass, and a strategic plan for restoration which
encompasses regulatory, database development, habitat, research, and
enhancement issues. The primary focus of the program regarding artificial
reefs has been to establish regional policies and planning document,
including a regional database on all permitted artificial reef sites
in the Gulf of Mexico. A publication summarizing much of that information
is available from the GSMFC office. More recently, the Sport Fish Restoration
Administrative Program has begun to address issues related to fisheries
habitat and nonindigenous species. The Sport Fish Restoration
Administrative Program Coordinator coordinates the program and is assisted
by Nancy K. Marcellus.
FISHERIES INFORMATION NETWORK (FIN)
In the 1980s and 1990s, state and federal fishery managers in the Southeast
Region (Region) agreed there was an urgent and compelling need for coordinated
collection of comprehensive data on the Region's marine commercial and
recreational fisheries resources, and recommendations were made through
a series of workshops and meetings. These recommendations of the GSMFC
and ASMFC led to the development of the Fisheries Information Network
(FIN) which is comprised two distinct programs: Commercial Fisheries
Information Network (ComFIN) and Recreational Fisheries Information
Network in the Southeastern United States [RecFIN(SE)]. The purpose
of this state-federal cooperative program is to collect, manage, and
disseminate statistical data and information on the commercial and recreational
fisheries of the Region. The programs are the result of combined efforts
of program partners which include states and territories of the Region,
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the National Park Service, the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Fishery Management Councils, and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
The Program Manager is David M. Donaldson and is assisted by Madeleine
A. Travis.
 HABITAT
PROGRAM
The Habitat Program is a joint program between the Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
The program started in July 1997 and addresses habitat issues in both
State and Federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The Habitat Program
is involved in the review and formulation of the habitat sections of
Commission Fishery Management Plans and is also responsible for drafting
the Essential Fish Habitat sections for all Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council Fishery Management Plans. The Habitat Program Coordinator
is Jeffrey K. Rester and is assisted by Cheryl R. Noble.
 EMERGENCY
DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM
The Emergency Disaster Recovery Program (EDRP) is a marine fishery emergency
assistance program authorized under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and funded by Congress in 2006,
to aid in the rehabilitation and recovery of marine fisheries in the
Gulf of Mexico following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005.
The program is funded in two parts; the first, in 2006 in the amount
of $127 million, for marine resource recovery and rehabilitation. This
appropriation is reported to be the single largest marine resource recovery
grant in the history of the National Marine Fisheries Service and focuses
on the restoration of damaged oyster resources, removal of debris from
and restoration of fishery habitat in Gulf fishing grounds, and cooperative
research aimed at assessment of post-even recovery. The second program
was funded in 2007 in the amount of $85 million to provide assistance
for individual commercial fishermen and fishery related business and
industry that continue to recover from the post disaster impacts. Additionally,
the second program makes funding available to the resource management
agencies of the Gulf States for the promotion of Gulf caught products.
The Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, through a cooperative agreement
with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, administers and coordinates
both recovery programs through sub-award grant agreements with each
of the five Gulf States. Recovery efforts of the combined programs are
expected to extend through the year 2012. The Emergency Disaster
Program coordinator is Ralph Hode.
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