Senator Moody Leads Efforts to Extend Red Snapper Season

WASHINGTON, D.C.-U.S. Senator Ashley Moody is leading efforts to give south Atlantic states more control over the length of the Red Snapper Fishing Season. Last year, under the federal model, the season lasted just two days. Senator Moody is leading a Congressional letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce in support of Florida's application. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a scientific agency that operates under the Department of Commerce. Last month, NOAA invited public comment on applications for EFP proposals.

Senator Ashley Moody said, "Under the federally regulated system, the red snapper season in the Atlantic can be as short as two days, putting anglers, small businesses, and coastal communities that rely on fishing at a disadvantage. That's why I, alongside my colleagues in the U.S. Senate, am supporting Florida's request to manage our own red snapper season through state-led exempted fishing permits. I applaud NOAA for seeking a collaborative relationship with the states to focus on reliable and accurate data."

The application is in support of Exempted Fishing Permit requests for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Under the leadership of each state, the EFP proposals would allow for red snapper recreational harvest seasons ranging from 39 days to 62 days this year. If approved, these changes would significantly increase recreational access to red snapper. Approved EFPs would also allow for testing of state data collection systems, potentially improving the accuracy and timeliness of recreational landings data.

Robyn Boerstling, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) said, "NOAA's proposal to issue Exempted Fishing Permits to the South Atlantic states is a meaningful step toward restoring access and improving the long-term management of red snapper. The Gulf state-led model has proven that better, state-driven data collection can deliver longer, more stable seasons while maintaining strong conservation outcomes. We encourage NOAA to continue supporting policies that empower states, modernize fisheries management, and protect access to public waters - a cornerstone of an industry that supports 812,000 American jobs and generates $230 billion in annual economic impact."

Glenn Hughes, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association said, "On behalf of the recreational fishing industry, thank you to Sen. Moody and other members of the delegation for standing up for saltwater anglers and the tens of thousands of jobs they support throughout the region. State management of red snapper will be a game-changer that will finally provide anglers with reasonable access and vastly improve data collection. We are excited to work with the Trump Administration, Congress and the states to ensure this new system is a success."

Roger Young, Executive Director Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said,"FWC thanks members of the United States Senate for their support of the EFPs submitted by the four south Atlantic states. This is an important step towards state management of red snapper in the South Atlantic. We echo the sentiment expressed in the letter and encourage NOAA Fisheries to approve the EFPs as submitted by the states and to fund the EFPs as Congress intended."

Jeff Angers, President of the Center for Sportfishing Policy said, "The South Atlantic red snapper population is the healthiest it has been in decades, yet anglers were limited to just two days on the water last year. We so much appreciate the leadership of Senators Moody, Budd, Graham and Rick Scott standing up for their states to support the better path forward. These EFPs strengthen science, improve data collection and move us toward meaningful access for anglers and coastal communities."

Read the full letter HERE.

Recreational fishing across these states generates a powerful economic ripple effect each year, producing $27.1 billion in economic impact and supporting more than 170,000 jobs. Nationwide, the scale of angler spending underscores the industry's significance. In 2022, U.S. anglers spent $99.4 billion, exceeding the annual revenues of major corporations such as UPS, Lowe's and Bank of America.

Beyond direct spending, anglers play a vital role in conservation funding. Through federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and related purchases, they contribute $2 billion toward conservation programs that support fisheries, habitat restoration, and outdoor recreation across the country.

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.