Saving Seafood

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

DeSantis announces record 70-day Gulf red snapper season

May 7, 2023 — Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a record 70-day-long Gulf red snapper recreational season.

This will be the longest combined season since the state assumed control of red snapper. It includes both a 46-day summer season and a 24-day fall season.

Gulf red snapper season is a favorite among Florida fishers, and often brings fishers from across the country.

Read the full article at Fox 4

 

Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance Release Statement on Red Snapper Increase

August 30, 2022 — Shareholders’ Alliance is making sure that their voice is heard following a red snapper quota increase announced by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

The Council issued a news release last week about the final action on a framework action to modify red snapper catch limits. They said that they chose to decrease the overfishing limit and increase the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and annual catch targets. The total annual catch limit is currently at 15,100,000 pounds and the newly recommended limit is 16,310,000 pounds. For the commercial annual catch limit, the current is 7,701,000 pounds and the newly recommended is 8,318,100 pounds.

“When the Gulf of Mexico Fishery management Council met in Corpus Christi last week, commercial and charter fishermen from Texas to Florida packed the meeting room and were unified around a single message – we are seeing warning signs that red snapper have started to decline,” said the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance. “Their ask was simple: please don’t increase the red snapper quota right now.”

According to the Council, the recommended catch limits are based on recommendations from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and new catch advice generated using updated estimates of absolute abundance of red snapper derived from the Great Red Snapper Count (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas) and by LGL Ecological Associates, Inc. (Louisiana). The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance says that the council ignored “emotional testimony” from more than 40 small fishing business owners whose livelihoods and communities depend on healthy red snapper stocks.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com