Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott, along with Congressmen John Rutherford and Darren Soto, has introduced the bipartisan Red Snapper Act. This legislation aims to prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from closing the Red Snapper fishery in the South Atlantic until a comprehensive study is completed. The closure could have significant impacts on coastal economies, affecting charter captains, anglers, and local businesses.

Senator Rick Scott emphasized Florida's fishing industry's economic importance: "Florida’s fishing industry is a multi-billion-dollar economic driver in our state, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and attracting visitors to communities along our coast." He expressed pride in collaborating with Congressman Rutherford on this act to protect the state's commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

Representative John Rutherford highlighted the efforts made by the South Atlantic fishing community over more than a decade to rebuild red snapper stocks. He criticized NOAA's recent management actions as "confounding and ridiculous," advocating for accurate data to inform policy decisions. "I am proud to introduce the Red Snapper Act with bipartisan and bicameral support this Congress," he stated.

Representative Darren Soto also voiced his support for the bill: "We have ample data showing that red snapper seasons help support coastal economies and the national economy overall—especially in Florida." He stressed the importance of reviewing results from an ongoing independent study before making any management decisions.

The Red Snapper Act seeks to delay NOAA's decision-making until new data from the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count can be integrated into stock assessments. This study has been funded by Congress over five years to provide reliable information on red snapper abundance, genomics, and mortality.

Red snapper seasons contribute significantly to regional economies. For instance, a six-day recreational season in 2018 added $13 million to the GDP of the South Atlantic region. Nationwide, anglers generate $148 billion in economic output annually, supporting nearly one million jobs.

The legislation is supported by several organizations including the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), Center for Sportfishing Policy (CSP), and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).