July 11, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission announced six new partnerships and seven projects aimed at improving recreational fishing effort and discard data collection in the Gulf. This effort represents a key investment in enhancing data quality and reducing data uncertainty to support sustainable fisheries management across the region.
The projects will receive $7.5 million from the Commission. They will focus on advancing innovative methods to collect more accurate, timely, and regionally relevant data on recreational fishing activities and released catch, commonly known as discards. These projects will address known data gaps and challenges in current reporting systems. They will contribute directly to better-informed stock assessments, management decisions, and conservation strategies. We selected projects based on scientific merit, feasibility, and their potential to significantly enhance data quality across Gulf states.