Empowering the Sunshine State: Congressional Leaders Advocate for Local Fishery Control
A coalition of Florida lawmakers, led by Senator Rick Scott and Representative John Rutherford, has sent a powerful message to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, advocating for state-led management of the thriving Red Snapper fishery in the South Atlantic.
The move aims to empower states like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to implement more effective data collection and management strategies, ultimately benefiting coastal economies and ensuring sustainable fishing opportunities.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Lutnick, the delegation expressed their gratitude for his collaboration with President Trump in prioritizing American interests, specifically commending the rejection of proposed “bottom closures” that would have severely impacted Florida’s fishing industry. These closures, which were part of a previous administration’s rule, would have prohibited bottom fishing for 55 species from December to February, a move the lawmakers deemed “devastating” for the state’s economy.
READ: Florida Anglers Reel In Record-Breaking Red Snapper Season For 2025
The letter highlights Florida’s successful track record in managing Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Under state authority granted by the Trump administration, Florida’s Gulf Red Snapper season has expanded dramatically from a mere 3 days to an impressive 126 days, demonstrating the efficacy of localized control and sound scientific practices.
The lawmakers believe this proven model can be replicated in the South Atlantic, where Red Snapper populations are now showing “unprecedented growth and record abundance.”
“For too long, Florida anglers in the South Atlantic have been largely shut out of red snapper harvest opportunities despite unprecedented growth and record abundance in this fishery,” the letter states. The delegation argues that while the federal government has struggled with reliable data collection, Florida and other South Atlantic states possess the capability to gather accurate information, leading to better fishing opportunities and continued conservation.
READ: Florida Lawmakers Intro Red Snapper Act To Protect Florida’s Fishing Industry
This push for state management comes on the heels of the “Red Snapper Act,” a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced earlier this year by Senator Scott and Representative Rutherford.
The act seeks to prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from unilaterally closing the South Atlantic Red Snapper fishery until a comprehensive “South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count” study is completed. This independent study, which Congress has funded, aims to provide new and reliable data on the stock’s abundance, genomics, and mortality, with results expected in 2025.
The letter to Secretary Lutnick was co-signed by a broad representation of Florida’s Congressional delegation, including Senator Ashley Moody and Representatives Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Kat Cammack, Mario Díaz-Balart, Byron Donalds, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine, Scott Franklin, Carlos Giménez, Laurel Lee, Anna Paulina Luna, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, Jared Moskowitz, Jimmy Patronis, María Elvira Salazar, Greg Steube, and Daniel Webster.
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