Red Snapper (FWC)

Florida Lawmakers Intro Red Snapper Act To Protect Florida’s Fishing Industry

Red Snapper (FWC)
Red Snapper (FWC)

Senator Rick Scott, alongside Representatives John Rutherford and Darren Soto, has introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Red Snapper Act, aiming to prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from unilaterally closing the red snapper fishery in the South Atlantic.

The bill seeks to halt any closures until the completion of the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count, an independent study that will provide comprehensive data on red snapper stock levels in 2025.

A potential closure of the red snapper fishery would have significant economic consequences for Florida’s coastal communities, impacting local businesses, anglers, and charter captains who rely heavily on the fishery.

READ: Bipartisan FISHES Act Signed Into Law, Expediting Fishery Disaster Relief Nationwide

“Florida’s fishing industry is a multi-billion-dollar economic driver in our state, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and attracting visitors to communities along our coast,” said Senator Rick Scott. “We’ve made great strides in Florida to ensure our natural resources are preserved and protected for years to come, including rebuilding the red snapper population. I’m proud to work with Congressman Rutherford on the Red Snapper Act to support our state’s commercial and recreational fishing industry and ensure their success isn’t limited by the federal government’s outdated data and regulations.”

Representative John Rutherford emphasized the efforts made by the South Atlantic fishing community to rebuild red snapper populations and criticized NOAA’s recent restrictions.

“For over a decade, the South Atlantic fishing community has worked hard to rebuild the red snapper stock, which plays an integral role in our local economy,” said Rutherford. “Thanks to their concerted efforts, anglers are seeing more red snapper off the coast of Northeast Florida than ever before. Even NOAA acknowledges that the population is no longer overfished, making recent one-day fishing seasons and management actions confusing and unacceptable. Widespread bottom closures that threaten Northeast Florida’s fishing economy are not the answer—accurate data is.”

READ: Lee Fisher International: The Joy Of Fishing Before You Go Fishing

Co-leading the bill, Representative Darren Soto highlighted the importance of red snapper fishing to Florida’s economy.

“I’m proud to co-lead this bill to ensure Florida anglers have the opportunity to fish for red snapper in the South Atlantic,” Soto said. “We have ample data showing that red snapper seasons help support coastal economies and the national economy overall—especially in Florida. NOAA must ensure the livelihoods of our coastal communities are not threatened by premature closures.”

The Red Snapper Act aims to ensure that NOAA does not make hasty management decisions based on outdated or incomplete data. The South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count, which Congress has funded for the past five years, will deliver new, reliable data on the fishery’s abundance, genetics, and mortality rates by 2025.

READ: Red Tide Persists In Southwest Florida, Fish Kills And Respiratory Issues Reported

Some key economic highlights related to the red snapper industry include:

  • The 2018 six-day red snapper season contributed $13 million to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the South Atlantic region.
  • America’s 52.4 million anglers generate an annual economic output of $148 billion, support 945,500 jobs, and contribute $1.8 billion toward conservation efforts.
  • Florida contributes $13.9 billion to the national economy, the highest of any state, through tourism, charter boat trips, bait and tackle sales, and more.

The Red Snapper Act has received widespread support from organizations advocating for recreational fishing and conservation, including:

  • The American Sportfishing Association (ASA)
  • The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF)
  • The Center for Sportfishing Policy (CSP)
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Lawmakers hope the Red Snapper Act will swiftly pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Trump.

Advocates stress the importance of reliable scientific data before implementing any restrictive measures that could negatively impact the economy and livelihoods of countless individuals along the South Atlantic coast.

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