May 29, 2025 — In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, commercial fish species in the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) were significantly impacted. The Oceanic Fish Restoration Project, part of NOAA’s restoration efforts after the spill, partnered with the pelagic longline fishing community to help rebuild robust fisheries in the Gulf.
The Unique Challenges of Restoring Open Ocean Fisheries
For commercial fishermen, the spill halted their business instantly. The plume of oil, and other chemicals, exposed fish at all life stages to toxic levels of contaminants.
It also happened at the worst possible time for some fish: spawning season. Eggs, embryos, and larvae were all especially vulnerable to the impacts of oil and other contaminants. Unable to mature and reproduce, another generation of fish was lost. As Captain Ally Mercier in Pompano Beach, Florida said, after the spill, “the water was so polluted… there was [sic] just no fish.”
Restoration in the deep waters away from coastlines presents a unique challenge. “We can’t just replant fish,” explains Ellen Bolen, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Director of Marine and Coastal Restoration. NFWF is a partner in the project.
The Gulf’s pelagic longline fishery is made up of around 30 vessels along the coast from Texas to Florida. They use longline gear in the open ocean to catch fish like yellowfin tuna, swordfish, and mahi mahi, supplying seafood to the Gulf region and beyond. But longlines often catch juveniles with no commercial value and when caught, young fish typically don’t survive. Reducing this bycatch and increasing survivability rates were the key to replenishing these species.
Rebuilding robust oceanic fish populations would require keeping juveniles in the water longer—and giving them time to reproduce—all the while continuing to support the fishing industry.
Partnering with Industry to Develop a Plan
To help reduce bycatch and support open ocean fisheries, NOAA and partners focused on using a different type of fishing gear. The gear would still catch what the fishermen were after, but would also greatly reduce the number of juvenile fish killed in the process.
To understand more about the fishing community—who they were, how their fishery operated, and what their needs were—the project team connected directly with community members.
Sandy Nguyen came aboard as a critical partner and the project’s first community liaison. She encouraged the fishing community to apply to participate and supported them through the administrative process of coming on board.
Rebuilding pelagic fish populations was a goal shared by federal and state agencies, fishermen, surrounding communities, and more. As the project came to life, another community liaison joined: Bobby Nguyen. “Everybody that’s connected to this project is hoping to give a fighting chance for these fish to come back,” he said.