Trump expands red snapper fishing season, raising overfishing concerns

President Donald Trump announced he has approved all state permits for the 2026 recreational red snapper fishing season, a move that expands access for anglers in four Southeastern coastal states. On Truth Social, Trump called it a “big win” for fishermen in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, while criticizing previous federal fishing seasons as too short.

The policy centers on coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which regulates fisheries and sets quotas and seasons in federal waters. According to Trump, states had long requested oversight of permits and fish numbers are at record highs.

For years, recreational red snapper fishing was tightly controlled at the federal level, often limited to short open windows. At their lowest point in the late 1990s and early 2000s, red snapper spawning stock fell to about 11% of historic levels, leading to strict conservation measures under a recovery plan extending to 2044.

Several Southeastern states pushed for greater flexibility, seeking to expand fishing days. Size and bag limits remain in place; typically anglers are allowed one fish per day in the South Atlantic. Florida’s administration under Governor Ron DeSantis welcomed the decision, arguing state-level management benefits communities.

A similar approach has already been used in the Gulf of Mexico, where states play a larger role in season management. However, Ocean Conservancy warned of worrying signs such as declining average fish size and anglers traveling farther to catch legal fish. Recent Gulf Council meetings recorded concerns from fishermen themselves about declining stocks.

Scientists and conservation groups warned that easing federal oversight could increase the risk of overfishing. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, regulators must set annual catch limits, but an extended season could undermine protections. Meredith Moore of Ocean Conservancy criticized the permits as “a loophole in sustainable management,” citing a NOAA analysis last year that found a two-day season was needed to prevent overfishing.

JP Brooker, Florida conservation director for the group, said: “Overfishing means sacrificing the chance to teach the next generation how to fish just to fill coolers this season. If we don’t follow the science, we could lose this beloved fishery forever.”

Estimates illustrate the scale of concern: the recreational quota for the South Atlantic is 22,797 fish, but a recent two-day season in Florida took 24,885 fish. Ocean Conservancy calculates a 39-day season could catch up to 485,000 fish, over 20 times the annual limit and risking violations of federal law.