Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance
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  • Home
  • Membership
  • Quota Bank
  • COVID-19 Response
  • In the News
  • Young Fishermen
  • Find Gulf Seafood
  • Follow Us
  • Our Partners
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Quota Bank

The only program of its kind in the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance launched the first Quota Bank in the Gulf of Mexico in 2015 to reduce red snapper discards in the eastern Gulf and to support the next generation of commercial red snapper fishermen. 2021 will mark our seventh year of operation.  

Here's how it works

 The Quota Bank leases red snapper allocation to the following two groups of fishermen:

  1. Eligible grouper fishermen that need red snapper allocation to cover some of their discards.
  2. Eligible “next generation” red snapper fishermen that are entering the fishery.


In exchange for leasing this allocation, Members agree to hold themselves to a high standard of accountability and participate in program requirements including electronic reporting, Best Business Practices, participation in regulatory meetings, and joining the Shareholders’ Alliance.


The Quota Bank is the only program of its kind in the Gulf of Mexico that is generating benefits for your fishery by:

  1. reducing red snapper discards,
  2. making fishing businesses more profitable,
  3. supporting the next generation of fishermen, and
  4. getting more fishermen involved in solving their management and regulatory problems.

2021 Quota Bank

Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis and processed four times per year. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to the quarterly deadlines identified below:

  • December 16, 2020 for Quarter 1 (January – March)
  • March 1 for Quarter 2 (April – June)
  • June 1 for Quarter 3 (July – September)
  • September 1 for Quarter 4 (October – December)


The Shareholders' Alliance Board will review applications as soon as practicable after each quarterly deadline. Applications will be evaluated based on compliance with eligibility criteria, commitment to best practices, prioritization of gear and meeting attendance, allocation availability, and historical compliance with Quota Bank requirements (if applicable).


Please see the Frequently Asked Questions document below for answers to some of the more commonly-asked questions. This document will be updated regularly.


View meetings that you can attend as a Quota Bank Member.

Apply to the Quota Bank

First Time Applicant

First Time Applicant

First Time Applicant

If you are new to the Quota Bank and have never worked with us before, fill out this application. 

2021 Membership Application

Renewal Application

First Time Applicant

First Time Applicant

If you are a previous member, or if you were approved this year and are requesting more allocation, fill out this renewal request. 

2021 Renewal Request

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Additional Documents

For more information on the Quota Bank, check out these documents. 

2021 Quota Bank Info (pdf)

Download

Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

Download

Quota Bank Announcement to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (pdf)

Download

Handbook of Quota Banks Around the Country (pdf)

Download

Press release celebrating 2017 Gulf Guardian Award (pdf)

Download

Reef Fish Quota Bank Annual Meeting Summary (December 4, 2020) (pdf)

Download

Presentation to Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (June 2019) (pdf)

Download

Upcoming Meetings

No upcoming events.

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Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance

1902 Wharf Road Galveston, TX 77550 US

eric@shareholdersalliance.org

Copyright © 2021 Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders' Alliance - All Rights Reserved.

Promoting Gulf of Mexico sustainable fisheries