Saving Seafood

FLORIDA: An expanded snapper season is proposed for Florida anglers

November 11, 2025 — Florida has formally asked federal officials for the authority to manage red snapper in the Atlantic Ocean, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission submitted an “Exempted Fishing Permit” to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick seeking to allow the state to assume management of recreational red snapper in state and federal waters off Florida’s eastern coast starting in 2026.

“We know that we can do this effectively, and we know that this is something that could make a big difference for our recreational anglers, particularly in Northeast Florida,” DeSantis said Monday during an event at Amelia Island Marina in Fernandina Beach.

Read the full article at the Sun Sentinel

Commercial fishers and businesses challenge US federal red snapper plan over dead discards

July 16, 2025 –A group of commercial fishers, seafood processors, and buyers from the U.S. states of North Carolina and Florida have filed a lawsuit against the federal government’s management of the Southeast Atlantic red snapper fishery, claiming that regulators are not adequately taking action on dead discards from the recreational sector.

“This case challenges the ongoing lack of accountability for dead discards of red snapper in the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper fishery, which directly harms commercial fishermen in that region and violates the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,” the lawsuit states.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Florida Man Sentenced to 30 Days for Shooting and Poisoning Dolphins

May 27, 2025 — For years, Zackary Barfield of Panama City, Fla., made his living on the Gulf of Mexico guiding fishing charters, often with dolphins trailing close behind, riding the boat’s wake. But when the dolphins began stealing red snapper from his clients’ lines, prosecutors say, the longtime captain turned predator.

Between 2022 and 2023, Mr. Barfield laced baitfish with pesticide and shot at dolphins from his boat, doing so once in front of “two elementary-aged children,” the U.S. attorney’s office for the Northern District of Florida said on Friday in a statement.

Mr. Barfield, 31, was sentenced this week to 30 days in prison and fined $51,000 for three counts of poisoning and shooting dolphins, violating both the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, according to federal prosecutors.

His sentence will be followed by one year of supervised release. Mr. Barfield pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 12, according to court documents.

Read the full article at The New York Times

The Future of Red Snapper Data: Using Active Acoustic Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence to Collect Data

April 16 2025 — In February, NOAA Fisheries took the initial steps to collect more comprehensive fisheries data by testing equipment that will be used to estimate the abundance of red snapper in the Gulf of America. We will use advanced video and acoustic cameras, combined with echosounders and artificial intelligence (AI) to collect these data. It’s a first-of-its-kind attempt to develop next generation surveys to improve and automate detection of red snapper, even in low visibility conditions, using acoustic technologies.

A Way of Life for Coastal Communities

Stock assessments include estimates of recreational catch, effort, and discards (when a fish is returned into the ocean dead or alive). They factor into how saltwater fishing seasons are determined. In the Southeast United States, saltwater fishing is a favorite pastime. Offshore fishing in the Gulf of America specifically has been cited as one of the top reasons people visit the region. Red snapper is the flagship species for what is considered to be the largest recreational fishery in the world. Red snapper are highly prized for their cultural and recreational value. Having an idea of their abundance in the Gulf is crucial for the sustainable management of the species and the coastal economies that rely on thriving fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries’ Responsibility

NOAA Fisheries is responsible for monitoring fish populations, managing stocks, and enforcing regulations, operating under 10 National Standards of sustainability. Our Southeast Fisheries Science Center is responsible for providing stock assessments to inform management. These assessments are a scientific report containing information on the collection, analysis, and details on the condition of a fish stock and estimating its sustainable yield. Managing sustainable fisheries is a dynamic process that requires consistent attention to new scientific information that can guide management actions.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Fishermen push for better red snapper management

January 28, 2025 — Red snapper populations in the South Atlantic are once again a topic of heated debate, with potential implications for the commercial fishing industry.

While recreational anglers and policymakers often dominate the region, the concerns of commercial harvesters, who depend on sustainable stocks for their livelihoods, must not be overlooked.

Recent legislative efforts, including introducing the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count Act, aim to reassess population data for red snapper in the region. The act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, Maria Elvira Salazar, and Austin Scott, seeks to address discrepancies between current stock assessments and anecdotal reports from fishermen. According to The St. Augustine Record, the bill is rooted in concerns that existing data underrepresents red snapper abundance, potentially restricting fishing opportunities unnecessarily.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

NOAA Fisheries drafting plan to end red snapper overfishing in the South Atlantic

October 23, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has taken the first steps towards implementing a plan to stop red snapper overfishing in the South Atlantic after years of alleged inaction by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. 

“NOAA Fisheries firmly believes that we must find ways to end overfishing and improve how the red snapper population in the South Atlantic is managed,” NOAA Fisheries said in a statement. “Currently, there are short commercial and recreational seasons, and low retention limits for red snapper.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Biden announces USD 2 million for red snapper recovery efforts

October 18, 2024 — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has announced USD 2 million (EUR 1.8 million) to help red snapper populations recover in the Gulf of Mexico.

“This USD 2 million investment, made possible thanks to President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will boost NOAA’s ability to support red snapper populations by expanding scientific partnerships that improve data collection and help us understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on fisheries in coastal regions nationwide,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

FLORIDA: Destin charter captains on longer red snapper season: ‘Worst I have seen in a long time’

September 4, 2024 — For some, it was business as usual. But most all agree the red snapper season was a bit long.

This year, vessels with a federal for-hire reef permit, which is most of the Destin charter fleet, had 88 days in federal waters to catch red snapper. Their season started on June 1 and ended Aug. 28 in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 88-day season (about 3 months) was the longest in more than a decade.

“We stayed steadily busy for both boats for the whole summer,” said Capt. Tyler Brielmayer of the charter boat First Light and owner of Nothin Matters.

Read the full article at The Destin Log

ALABAMA: Alabama’s Britt, Tuberville advocating for illegal red snapper fishing bill

August 15, 2024 — U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) recently recognized the progress of a bill aimed to protect Alabama’s red snapper industry, relevant news for the No. 2 red snapper fishing spot in the Gulf, according to FishingBooker.

The Senate Commerce Committee has advanced the Illegal Red Snapper Enforcement Act, a bill sponsored by Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Britt and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), which would strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing activities.

In an article published earlier this year, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were named the second-best red snapper fishing destination in the Gulf of Mexico for 2024 by FishingBooker, one of the country’s largest platforms for booking fishing trips. The area, known as the “Red Snapper Capital of the World,” boasts the largest artificial reef system in the U.S., drawing anglers to its productive waters during Alabama’s red snapper season, which opened May 24 and runs every Friday through Monday until the private angler quota is projected to be met.

Read the full article at Gulf Coast Media