Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) is an interstate compact organization representing Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, established under Public Law 81-66 with the principal objective of conserving, developing, and fully utilizing fishery resources of the Gulf of Mexico. As a U.S. government entity classified as an interstate entity, GSMFC serves as a critical partner to federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, providing specialized technical support, data management services, and coordination for marine fisheries research and management across the Gulf Coast region. The organization functions as both a direct federal contractor and grant recipient, leveraging its established expertise in marine research, data collection, and interstate coordination to advance fisheries science and resource management.

GSMFC's federal contract work centers on providing specialized data quality control and training support services to NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). In December 2025, GSMFC was awarded a $4.31 million firm fixed price definitive contract (OR-25-03312) by NOAA with no set-aside designation, running through December 20, 2028, with performance conducted in Galveston, Texas. Under this contract, GSMFC delivers data quality control and training support services designed to enhance NOAA's marine fisheries data management and research capabilities, reflecting the organization's specialized expertise in technical support and data management services critical to federal fisheries operations.

GSMFC's federal grant portfolio demonstrates extensive engagement with NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service across multiple cooperative agreements and project grants totaling tens of millions of dollars. Major NOAA-funded cooperative agreements include a $7.65 million award for coordinating and administering the Gulf Fisheries Information Network (GULFFIN) from October 2025 through September 2029, which encompasses Marine Recreational Information Program surveys, headboat sampling, and data management system operations across multiple states; a $5 million cooperative research agreement (July 2025 to June 2029) for fishery-independent research on transboundary fish species in the Gulf of Mexico including cobia, tripletail, tarpon, and gray triggerfish; and a $15.1 million cooperative research award (March 2025 to December 2027) providing coordination and administrative support for improving recreational fishing effort and catch estimates for offshore fishing trips. Additional ongoing cooperative agreements include a five-year partnership program (September 2023 to August 2028) supporting GSMFC's mission through biennial national meetings, regional trainings, and research collaboration; and a $4 million grant (January 2024 to December 2027) for coordinating projects to improve recreational fishery data quality and management systems for red snapper populations. GSMFC also manages U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants, including a $400,000 Cooperative Agreement (January 2025 to December 2027) to establish a Regional Rapid Response Fund addressing aquatic invasive species threats in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic region, and formula grants supporting investigations into nonindigenous aquatic invasive species prevention and artificial reef activities. The organization has also administered project grants for offshore sampler trips on charter vessels targeting reef species and shrimp effort data collection programs, as well as interjurisdictional fishery management planning and assessment activities. Sub-grant awards managed by GSMFC include support from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance for derelict crab trap removal and detection improvements, and disaster relief funding from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for freshwater flooding recovery, demonstrating GSMFC's role as both primary grantee and fiscal agent for regional fisheries and environmental initiatives.