Yesterday, Congress was briefed on the impressive preliminary findings of the Great Red Snapper Count. This unprecedented study was led by the Harte Research Institute and provides an independent and robust assessment of Gulf of Mexico red snapper stock abundance. According to a NOAA Fisheries statement on the study, the results indicate there are “up to three times as many” red snapper in the Gulf than previously thought. The state-of-the-art study was funded through a $10 million Congressional appropriation, championed by…

Today, the recreational fishing and boating community praised final action taken by NOAA Fisheries to implement state management for private anglers fishing for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Today’s action cements the management changes found in “Reef Fish Amendment 50: State Management for Recreational Red Snapper” agreed to by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) in April 2019 and sent to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross for approval. Under an exempted fishing permit (EFP), the…