Why It Matters: NOAA Fisheries has approved the latest round of exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, giving eligible anglers an opportunity to fish for South Atlantic red snapper beyond the three-day federal season while testing new state-led data collection methods. The information gathered on fishing effort, harvest, and discards will help managers make more timely decisions and shape a longer-term approach to the fishery.
Highlights:
- The federal recreational red snapper season will run October 9–11. Eligible participants in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina may fish under their respective states’ EFPs through October 22.
- NOAA and the states may authorize a second EFP season in December after reviewing the October results and determining whether uncaught quota remains.
- The three pilot projects will test state-specific data collection and management approaches while keeping catch and discards within sustainable levels.
Last week, NOAA Fisheries announced a three-day federal recreational red snapper season for the South Atlantic, one day longer than last year’s season. More importantly for the future of the fishery, NOAA also issued EFPs to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The permits authorize eligible participants to harvest red snapper from October 9 through October 22 while the states test improved ways to collect recreational fishing data and manage harvest. EFP participants must follow their state’s permit requirements.
The approvals are a welcome step after an earlier round of South Atlantic EFPs was halted by a federal court shortly before anglers were set to fish. The states submitted revised applications this summer, and NOAA modified the newly issued permits to address the court decision and concerns about harvest levels. NOAA has set state-specific harvest limits and projects that they can be reached within the 14-day October period. If a state remains below its limit, NOAA and that state may consider another season in December.
As the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has emphasized throughout this process, the value of these EFPs extends beyond the additional days on the calendar. Florida will build on its State Reef Fish Survey, while Georgia and South Carolina will test electronic trip reporting. Information collected through the pilots can help clarify how many anglers are fishing for red snapper, what they harvest, and what they release. That evidence is essential to demonstrating that state-led approaches can reduce uncertainty and support more dependable fishing opportunities while conserving the stock.
CSF commends NOAA Fisheries and the three states for moving these projects forward. It is now incumbent upon anglers who participate to follow their state’s requirements and report their trips accurately so that we can fundamentally change the management trajectory of this fishery for the better. CSF looks forward to continuing to work with NOAA, the states, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to evaluate the results and turn better data into durable improvements in red snapper management in the region.