Rutherford Leads Bicameral Letter on State Management of South Atlantic Red Snapper

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, co-chairs of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, U.S. Congressmen John H. Rutherford (FL-05), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Russell Fry (SC-07), and David Rouzer (NC-07), sent a bicameral letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in strong support of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina's Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications that request approval to improve state data collection and implement state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery in federal waters in the South Atlantic region.

The co-chairs were joined by Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Ashely Moody (R-FL), and Rick Scott (R-FL), and Representatives Byron Donalds (FL-19), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Randy Fine (FL-06), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Aaron Bean (FL-04), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Kat Cammack (FL-03), Cory Mills (FL-07), Mike Haridopolos (FL-08), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Rick Allen (GA-12), Neal Dunn (FL-02), Darren Soto (FL-02), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), and Maria Salazar (FL-27).

"These requests from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are the result of years of conservation work, collecting better data, and improving management techniques," said Rutherford. "In fact, for years, I have heard from anglers that they see more red snapper now than ever before. Sadly, despite this success, anglers continue to face one- and two-day seasons, barring them access to a healthy, abundant resource even after years of conservation and compliance. That must come to an end. That's why as a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force in the House, I remain committed to supporting state management. I look forward to working with Governor DeSantis and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to fight for recreational anglers in Northeast Florida and the Great State of Florida. Our states and governors are ready to lead the way by applying proven methods to collect high-quality data, expand sustainable harvests, and support the coastal economies that depend on this fishery. Together, let's Make Fishing Great Again."

"Federal, one-size-fits-all policies have choked Georgia's recreational fishing industry for years. State-based management is the common-sense solution. Georgia anglers are the experts and better equipped to set conservation and fishing policies that protect fish stocks and our way of life. I'm proud that Georgia submitted this request and urge the Trump administration to swiftly approve it," said Carter.

"South Carolina's anglers and fishers are essential to our way of life and our economy," said Fry. "Those who make their living on the water know these fisheries best.State-led management is the commonsense solution, allowing our states to use better data, extend seasons, and strengthen our coastal communities."

"I strongly support North Carolina's request for autonomy over red snapper season and urge the Trump Administration to move quickly so these reforms are in place by the 2026 season. For years, rigid federal rules have meant one- or two-day red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic even as they are plentiful in our waters. That makes no sense for our coastal economy or for conservation. Under state leadership, we can use up-to-date, local data to protect the red snapper population while allowing anglers in the South Atlantic more predictable and responsible fishing opportunities." saidRouzer.

"Florida's fisheries are vital to our economy, our culture, and our way of life," said Soto. "We're ensuring that fishermen, scientists, and coastal communities have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information possible to keep our fisheries strong and sustainable for future generations."

The South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force is dedicated to improving data collection efforts and ensuring more predictable fishing seasons. Recently, Rutherford and several task force members led state delegation letters to the Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requesting longer seasons and state management of South Atlantic fisheries.

Florida's EFP request includes assuming state management of red snapper in federal waters and a 39-day recreational red snapper season in the South Atlantic. Specifically, Florida requests an EFP that would authorize the state to test new management strategies and allow the 2026 recreational red snapper season to run continuously from May 22 (the Friday before Memorial Day) to June 20 and then reopen in the fall for 3-day fishing weekends (Friday-Sunday) on Oct. 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18.

Read the full letter is below:

We, the undersigned Members of Congress representing the South Atlantic region, write to express our strong support for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina's Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications that request approval to improve state data collection efforts and implement state-led management of the recreational red snapper fishery in federal waters in the South Atlantic region.

For too long, recreational anglers in the South Atlantic have been largely shut out of red snapper harvest opportunities despite unprecedented growth and record abundance in this fishery. This is a sign that the current management system is out of step with the on-the-water reality. Despite fishery managers' success rebuilding the stock for more than a decade, anglers continue to face one-or two-day seasons, a frustrating cycle that leaves them unable to access a healthy and abundant resource even after years of conservation and compliance.

On June 11, 2025, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finalized Amendment 59, establishing new measures to end and prevent overfishing. We thank you for rejecting the bottom closures that were proposed by the Biden Administration. Closing bottom fishing from December to February for 55 species off the east coast of Florida would have been devastating to our region's economy. The drastic nature of that proposal underscores the need for significant changes to South Atlantic red snapper management to ensure reasonable harvest opportunities.

The South Atlantic states' EFP requests align with President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which directs the Department of Commerce and NOAA to expand the use of EFPs and modernize data collection so that fishery management decisions can respond to real-time conditions. Under these requested EFPs, states will develop and test reliable data collection programs that improve our understanding of the red snapper stock and expand fishing opportunities for anglers through more accurate, responsive management.

We have a proven model. During President Trump's first term, his administration approved state management EFPs for red snapper in the Gulf, moving management decisions closer to the resource. That decision improved stock health, strengthened data collection, and led to longer, more predictable fishing seasons. In 2025, Florida had its longest season since state management began in the Gulf, at 126 days, which is a dramatic improvement over the 3 federal season days in 2017. That experience shows what happens when States are in the lead: with better data and more responsive management, anglers gain access, conservation is maintained, and coastal communities benefit. These are outcomes that Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina should be able to realize in the South Atlantic.

Now, during President Trump's second term, there is an opportunity to extend the Gulf's successful state-led red snapper management in the South Atlantic. The region's states are ready to lead by applying proven methods to collect high-quality data, expand sustainable harvests, and support the coastal economies that depend on this fishery.

Mr. Secretary, we urge your department to work swiftly with Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to approve these EFPs and authorize state-led management of red snapper in the South Atlantic beginning in 2026. We look forward to working with you to advance state management for the benefit of fishermen, conservation, and our coastal economy.