August 12, 2026 — Proposals for state management of the South Atlantic red snapper fishery in federal waters set a collective harvest limit of 215,391 fish, roughly 10 times higher than the previous recreational harvest limit of 22,797 fish.
The proposals were submitted by the state governments of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and would set month-long recreational seasons in the fall.
July 31, 2026 — As he watched the British bombarding Fort McHenry from a truce ship on the Patapsco River, inspiration struck Francis Scott Key. When the American flag was raised after 24 hours of explosive assault, Key wrote what would become “The Star Spangled Banner.” Our national anthem was born, along with our country’s obsession with fireworks.
But long before there were red rockets glaring in the sky, the Patapsco River had an equally impressive natural spectacle of its own. Every spring, it would turn silver with millions of river herring. The annual migration of these fish was a sight to behold in rivers up and down the East Coast of North America. In fact, here at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Maryland, Muddy Creek used to be called Herring Creek.
Emphasis on “used to.” In less than a century, river herring populations have dwindled by well over 90 percent. These fish have certainly seen better days, but recovery efforts are well underway. Scientists are fighting an upstream battle to protect what remains, using cutting-edge research and… bombs bursting in air?
July 21, 2026 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries received a petition from Save Long Beach Island, Inc. to revise the critical habitat designation for North Atlantic right whales under the Endangered Species Act. The petition requests a revision to the current critical habitat designation to include a migratory habitat in waters between Maine and Georgia.
NOAA Fisheries reviewed the petition, references provided by the petition, and information readily available in our files, and found that the petition does not present substantial scientific information indicating a revision to North Atlantic right whale critical habitat may be warranted. Therefore, a negative 90-day finding was made.
Read the notice as filed in the Federal Register today.
Industry: Jean Higgins, Protected Resources, 978-281-9345
Media: Contact GARFO Public Affairs
July 8, 2026 — A new federal push could have a big impact on fishermen in Coastal Georgia and the Lowcountry.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association announced a new “America First” seafood strategy aimed at boosting the U.S. seafood industry July 2. The plan focuses on supporting commercial fishermen, cutting regulations and expanding access to domestic seafood.
For the South Atlantic region, which includes Georgia and South Carolina, NOAA officials said its priorities are to revise the Snapper Grouper permit policies and support state agency led exempted permits for red snapper.
June 22, 2026 — Fishermen in Georgia will have to keep tossing back one of their most common catches for the foreseeable future.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced it’s delaying the state’s recreational red snapper season that was supposed to start on July 1.
Recreational red snapper season was just two days last year, and the plan was to stretch that two days into two months this year to run through July and August.
However, a federal judge’s decision put a stop to it before it even started, leaving the future of red snapper season in Georgia a bit murky.
“There’s a lot of red snapper out there, and it’s past time to change the rules,” said Knucklehead’s Bait and Tackle Owner Jerre Brumbelow.
June 22, 2026 — A proposed 62‑day recreational red snapper season in federal waters off Georgia that was to begin July 1 has been delayed after a federal judge blocked a set of Exempted Fishing Permits for South Atlantic states, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said.
The injunction, issued by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, prevents implementation of the permits while a legal challenge proceeds. The permits affected submissions from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The permit that would have allowed Georgia’s pilot season was challenged in federal court by the Southeastern Fisheries Association. Environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund and Ocean Conservancy, supported the lawsuit.
Georgia DNR has withdrawn its original request and plans to file a revised EFP application, the agency said.
“While this outcome is certainly disappointing, we remain committed to expanding access to red snapper fishing opportunities for Georgia anglers,” said Walter Rabon, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “We believe state‑led management and improved data collection can provide a better path forward, and we will continue working with our partners to pursue that goal.”
May 26 2026 — When the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) in early May to states from North Carolina south, Atlantic red snapper anglers couldn’t hold in their excitement. That’s because offshore anglers in the South Atlantic have been completely handcuffed from targeting and keeping red snapper for years. Since 2020, the red snapper season in Atlantic federal waters has been just one to four days in July. Even before 2020, the red snapper season has been in overhaul mode since 2010 — there hasn’t been an Atlantic federal recreational season that’s exceeded 8 days since then.
The EFPs are a way for the states to finally have longer recreational red snapper seasons in 2026. Officially, NMFS said:
“The EFPs allow the states to pilot test state data collection and management strategies for the recreational harvest of red snapper in 2026. The EFPs are intended to improve data on recreational fishing effort and catch of red snapper in the South Atlantic and to inform the development of a long-term state-led management strategy for the recreational harvest of red snapper.”
What that means for anglers is a 2026 season that spans months, not a weekend. Off Florida, anglers in federal waters receive 39 days (May 22 – June 20, October 2-4, October 9-11, and October 16-18), while Georgia and the Carolinas enjoy 62 days (July 1 – August 31). Bag limit is just one red snapper a day, but that couldn’t stop the overall buzz and excitement around the docks.
First up was the Sunshine State. In Florida, anglers readied their boats for a Memorial weekend fishing trip, while charters from Jacksonville south were booked with expectant bottom fishermen. As part of the EFPs, anglers are required to declare their fishing trip and report back their red snapper catches.
May 22, 2026 — The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting four states from expanding their recreational red snapper fishing seasons under exempting fishing permits (EFP) issued earlier in May.
“The South Atlantic EFPs for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are no longer in effect until further order from the Court, and the recreational harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic remains closed,” NOAA Fisheries said in a 21 May statement. “All recreational fishing under these South Atlantic EFPs is not authorized, including tomorrow’s start date of May 22, 2026, for Florida’s recreational red snapper season.”
May 22, 2026 — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is battling a federal court ruling that has thrown the state’s red snapper fishing season into chaos, just as anglers were gearing up for the opening day.
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction on Thursday against the recently approved Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) that were set to allow fishing for this popular species in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
As a result of the court’s decision, all recreational fishing under these EFPs is suspended, effectively closing the red snapper season until further notice.
May 14, 2026 — North Atlantic right whales, which give birth off the coast of Georgia, the Carolinas and Florida each winter, had their most successful calving season in more than 15 years. There are only about 380 right whales still alive, so every new baby is considered critical to keeping the species from extinction.
Scientists spotted 23 right whale calves swimming with their moms this past calving season, which runs from November to April. It’s the most new calves since 2009. The number has researchers “cautiously optimistic,” said Amy Warren, scientific program officer at the New England Aquarium. But she said calving is only part of the whales’ story.
“Having 23 calves is excellent, but we hope that all of these 23 calves can make it through the first year and then into adulthood,” she said.
It’s not uncommon for calves and adult whales alike to be killed, often by boat strikes or entanglements in fishing gear.