New Federal red snapper regulations proposed for South Atlantic

In January The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association proposed a new amendment that if implemented would attempt to curb overfishing of red snapper and grouper in southern Florida. 

NOAA says the proposed amendment would help curtail bycatch deaths of snapper by closing the bottom fishing season for three months from December through February. 

Bycatch for snapper and other deepwater species is especially difficult to deal with because of the barotrauma the fish suffer when rapidly changing pressure 

Along with the three month closure, the amendment will also increase the annual catch limits since implementation of the rebuilding plan in 2010.  

The proposal would limit fishing in the Atlantic Ocean from south of Cape Canaveral to the Florida-Georgia line out to 200 miles.

The amended catch limits would increase the number of fish caught per year from 29,656 fish to 85,000 during the nine months when the season is open as a way to compensate anglers for the loss of months. The proposal would also increase the harvest days for snapper to 5-9 instead of the single harvest day in 2024.

Commercial catch limits would also be increased during open months going from 124,815 pounds to 346,000 lbs.   

The stated goal of the plan is to lower the amount of fish fatalities from bycatch by up to 24%, thereby protecting the recruitment of rebounding snapper and grouper populations.

While the goal will be to protect snapper populations, the closure would also include grouper, jacks, sea bass, porgies, triggerfish, hogfish, tilefishes, and grunts.

Organizations that oppose the plan say the three month closure will harm Florida’s $9.2 billion recreational fishing economy, hurt Floridians ability to fish and is an example of government overreach.

The center for sportfishing policy said in a public statement that the data NOAA has derived their proposal from is flawed and the decision was pushed forward hastily before the change in presidential administration. 

The American Sportfishing Association also released a public statement rebuking the proposed plan. The ASA said the extra catch and keep days and pounds of allowed fish do not properly compensate for the shutdown of three months. They also say the data being used by anglers who are releasing snapper is unreliable and not fit for a scientific consensus.

 Public comment on the proposed Amendment is open until Mar 17, 2025. Anglers and anyone else concerned with, or supportive of, the measure can leave a comment here. 

Make sure and stay aware of what happens with this iconic fish and the south Atlantic fishery in Florida.