The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Thursday it will join other state and federal agencies in recognizing what’s been called the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as the Gulf of America.
Supporting President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14172, calling for the name change , called “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” FWC said it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in all Commission materials, documents, rules, maps, forms, and resources. through Executive Order 25-04.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum issued an order, directing the Board of Geographic Names (BGN) to update the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America “As a vital resource for the State of Florida and its citizenry, providing both recreational and economic opportunities through fishing, boating, tourism and other outdoor pursuits, the Gulf of America plays a significant role in our nation and state’s economy and leisure activities,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young.
The FWC noted it has divisions dedicated to fisheries management, fish and wildlife research, boating and waterways law enforcement and the like that directly pertain and refer to the Gulf of America.
The FWC joins agencies like the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has directed to accept the “Gulf of America” name change in all department documents.
Earlier in February, FWC recognized Florida bass as a unique species and incorporated the name change into rules. As stated in a 2024 news release, the American Fisheries Society confirmed Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides) as a separate species from largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans). The updates do not alter the existing bass fishing regulations.
“This is exciting news for Florida and for bass anglers everywhere,” said Tom Graef, Director of FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “Florida bass grow bigger than any other bass and recognizing them as a unique species highlights just how special they are. This distinction strengthens our commitment to conserving and promoting Florida bass, ensuring future generations can continue to experience the thrill of catching a true giant.”
