Agency announces regulation for renaming Gulf of America
The Gulf of Mexico, a significant body of water off the southern coast of the United States, has been renamed the Gulf of America as per a final rule announced by NOAA. This change is in compliance with Executive Order 14172, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," issued on January 20, 2025.
NOAA's role is to implement this directive by amending its regulations and references in accordance with the Executive Order. This includes edits in regulations under key statutes such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, among others.
However, NOAA notes that it cannot alter the statutory language enacted by Congress, so references in laws like the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will remain until Congress acts to update those statutes. The name change is regulatory and administrative to align NOAA's documents and regulations with the Executive Order's intent to honor American greatness through renaming.
The regulatory change in the code of the federal registry took effect on August 7th, 2025.
Stay Informed with NOAA's Text Message Alert Program
NOAA's Text Message Alert Program allows users to receive fishery-related alerts via text message. Text alerts may include immediate fishery openings and closures, and any significant changes to fishing regulations. To sign up for alerts, text the following keywords to 888777:
- GULFCOMMFISH for Gulf of America Commercial Fisheries alerts
- GULFRECFISH for Gulf of America Recreational Fisheries alerts
- CARIBFISH for Caribbean Fisheries alerts
- SATLCOMMFISH for South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries alerts
- SATLRECFISH for South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries alerts
For more information on this rule or to contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office, you can call 727-209-5991 or visit their physical address at 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505.
Impact on Gulf of America Alliance and Statutory Designation
The Gulf of America Alliance's statutory designation or eligibility to receive funds as an existing regional ocean partnership is not altered by the name change. However, there will remain limited statutory references to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and Gulf of Mexico until or unless legislation is enacted to update statutes to reflect the Gulf of America name.
In summary, the renaming serves the purpose of restoring and honoring American greatness as directed by the President’s Executive Order, and NOAA is implementing it through regulatory updates.
- The Gulf of Mexico, now officially renamed the Gulf of America, plays a significant role in the United States' southern coast.
- Science, particularly in the field of environmental-science, will continue to monitor the changes in the Gulf of America due to climate-change.
- Renewable-energy sources, such as solar and wind power, could help mitigate the impact of climate-change on the Gulf of America.
- Industries, such as fishing and tourism, are likely to be affected by the changes in the Gulf of America due to climate-change.
- Businesses, including real-estate, housing-market, and personal-finance, may need to adapt their strategies to account for the impact of climate-change on the Gulf of America.
- Education-and-self-development programs can play a crucial role in teaching people about sustainable-living practices, which could help preserve endangered species in the Gulf of America.
- Data-and-cloud-computing technologies can help scientists monitor and predict the effects of climate-change on the Gulf of America.
- NOAA's Text Message Alert Program can provide updates on fishery regulations in the Gulf of America, which is crucial for industry and lifestyle decisions.
- basketball fans can follow their favorite teams, such as the NBA and NCAA-basketball, while being informed about the weather forecasting in the Gulf of America.
- Sports-betting enthusiasts might also be interested in the weather patterns in the Gulf of America, as they could affect sports events.
- The change in the Gulf of Mexico's name will not affect the Gulf of America Alliance's eligibility for funds as a regional ocean partnership.
- Limited statutory references to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and Gulf of Mexico will remain until legislation updates statutes to reflect the Gulf of America name.
- NOAA's role is to implement the name change in compliance with the President’s Executive Order, honoring American greatness through renaming.
- Lifelong-learning is key to adapting to changes, such as the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and the challenges posed by climate-change.
