Saving Seafood

GEORGIA: NOAA says snapper permits top priority locally in ‘America-first’ seafood strategy

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.

Read the full article at WSAV

SOUTH CAROLINA: SC’s red snapper season on pause amid federal lawsuit

June 22, 2026 — Anglers won’t be able to reel in red snappers off South Carolina’s coast this summer after a federal judge paused the state’s extended season.

The decision, which came in response to a lawsuit filed last month in Washington, D.C., reversed a federal agency’s approval to extend the state’s recreational fishing season from two days last year to 62 days this year. The state Department of Natural Resources touted that approval as a victory following years of pushing for longer seasons to catch the large, red fish.

South Carolina’s red snapper season was set to begin July 1.

Because the legal case won’t be resolved before then, state officials withdrew the application for a longer season and are instead working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to set dates for a red snapper season this fall, DNR said in a news release Friday.

The Southeastern Fisheries Association, which represents nearly 300 southeastern businesses, sued Secretary Howard Lutnick, arguing the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the permits, failed to consider the possibility of overfishing in violation of a 1976 conservation law.

Read the full article at the South Carolina Daily Gazette 

Court blocks South Atlantic red snapper permits; Georgia pilot season delayed

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.”

Read the full article at News 4 Jax

SOUTH CAROLINA: Federal injunction keeps red snapper permit suspended; SC proposes fall season

June 19, 2026 — South Carolina’s planned summer pilot season for red snapper fishing in federal waters remains on hold after a federal court injunction suspended similar permits across the region, state wildlife officials said.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ (SCDNR) Exempted Fishing Permit for red snapper remains suspended because of the injunction affecting permits in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The permit would have allowed a 62-day red snapper season in federal waters off South Carolina beginning July 1.

Read the full article at WPDE

VIRGINIA: Dominion Energy renews deal with Virginia Beach to buy land for more offshore wind

June 17, 2026 — The utility would use onshore infrastructure at the site for a wind farm off the Outer Banks.

The Virginia Beach Development Authority last week approved an option agreement with Dominion Energy for land that could support a future offshore wind project.

The deal allows the utility to buy about 30 acres at Corporate Landing Business Park within the next five years, which it could use for an onshore substation and grid interconnection point.

It is not related to the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, or CVOW, currently under construction about 27 miles east of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Dominion’s eyeing the land for another possible project about 25 miles south, in North Carolina. The lease area, which the utility calls CVOW South, is located off the Outer Banks coast.

Read the full article the WHRO

The Longest Atlantic Red Snapper Season in Years Is on Hold

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.

Read the full article at Wired2fish.com

FLORIDA: US court temporarily halts expansion of Southeast Atlantic recreational red snapper fishing

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.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

FLORIDA: FWC slams ‘rogue’ judge as red snapper season gets torpedoed on eve of opener

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.

Read the full article at CBS 12

Dominion Energy to merge with Florida company, creating a utility titan

May 19, 2026 — The combined company would serve 10 million customers and have dual headquarters in Florida and Richmond.

Florida-based NextEra Energy on Monday announced plans to acquire Dominion Energy, creating what officials called “the world’s largest regulated electric utility business,” worth more than $400 billion.

The companies have entered a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock, tax-free transaction, according to a joint news release. They will need approval from state and federal regulators.

“This combination brings together two strong operating platforms and creates an even stronger energy partner for Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, with the scale and balance sheet to deliver the generation, transmission and grid investments our customers and economies need,” Dominion president and CEO Robert Blue said in the statement.

The combined company, serving about 10 million customers, would use NextEra’s name on the stock exchange, with dual headquarters in Richmond and Juno Beach, Florida. But Dominion will continue to operate under its own name.

NextEra shareholders would own about 75%. Dominion shareholders would receive $360 million in cash when the deal closes.

Read the full article at WHRO

 

SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina anglers to get longer red snapper season under new permits

May 12, 2026 — South Carolina anglers will have a much longer window to reel in red snapper this summer after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved state permits for the 2026 recreational season at the beginning of this month.

Sen. Stephen Goldfinch said the approval means anglers will now have 61 to 62 days to fish for red snapper off South Carolina’s coast and in federal waters, rather than the prior 1 to 2 days.

The permits allow the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to pilot a program to collect data on how many fish are targeted, harvested and released.

Read the full article at WPDE