September 22, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Commerce has given three South Atlantic states permission to manage extended recreational red snapper fishing seasons in federal waters this fall after an early effort to run an extended state-managed summer season was blocked by a lawsuit filed by commercial fishers.
“NOAA is dedicated to working with our state partners, fishermen, and fishery managers to advance sustainable fisheries and strengthen the science that supports them,” NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs said in a release. “These efforts enable us to test new, innovative approaches and improve recreational data collection to support the long-term sustainability of South Atlantic red snapper.”