Rep. Cammack Joins Reps. Rutherford, Murphy In Letter To NOAA Administrator Calling For More Data Amid Consideration Of Red Snapper Fishery Closures

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) joined Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL-04) and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-07) in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Richard Spinrad, calling for him to suspend further consideration of area closures in the South Atlantic until data from the ongoing South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count can be integrated into management decisions.

Over the last 10 years, fishery managers have been successfully working to rebuild the red snapper stock in the South Atlantic. However, as the stock recovers, more fish are being caught and thrown back. Due to a lack of good independent data, South Atlantic red snapper seasons continue to be extremely limited, with only a two-day recreational season this year. To fill the gaps, Congress has appropriated $5.1 million over the last three years to do the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count, which will provide better data on total abundance, genomics, and mortality data.

"Fishing greatly impacts the Florida aquaculture industry and plays a vital role in our state’s economy," said Rep. Cammack. "NOAA's area closures in the South Atlantic have severely limited red snapper seasons, undermining the great work of our state's fishery managers in having rebuilt the red snapper stock over the last ten years. As the only Florida Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to support this bill and the anglers of our state who are suffering from these unreasonable restrictions."

"As an outdoorsman and proud angler, I understand the importance of strong, sustainable fisheries to our state and local economy," said Rep. Rutherford. "While the two-day season this year was unacceptably short, full closures would destroy the livelihoods of many and decimate our local fishing economy. To make these sweeping management decisions without considering the independent data that is on the way would be irresponsible."

Original signees of the letter include U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (SC), Marco Rubio (FL), Rick Scott (FL), and Tim Scott (SC), and U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack (FL), Al Lawson (FL), Austin Scott (GA), Bill Posey (FL), Brian Mast (FL), Buddy Carter (GA), Byron Donalds (FL), Daniel Webster (FL), Darren Soto (FL), Drew Ferguson (GA), Garret Graves (LA), Gregory Murphy (NC), Gus Bilirakis (FL), Jeff Duncan (SC), Joe Wilson (SC), María Elvira Salazar (FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (FL), Michael Waltz (FL), Nancy Mace (SC), Neal Dunn (FL), Richard Hudson (NC), Scott Franklin (FL), Ted Budd (NC), and Val Demings (FL).

The full text of the letter may be found below.

###

Dear Administrator Spinrad,

We write today to share our serious concerns and urge you not to consider area closures in the South Atlantic for the red snapper fishery. While it is important to ensure that our fisheries are managed in a sustainable way, area closures would have immense economic implications in our states and we currently lack the independent data to support the decision. Red snapper is a highly sought-after species in the South Atlantic and major economic driver. In 2018 alone, the 6-day recreational season added $13 million to the gross domestic product (GDP) for the region.

Over the last 10 years, fisheries managers have been working to regrow the red snapper stock, and by all accounts, these efforts have been successful. Anyone who has been out on the water recently will tell you that red snapper are plentiful. However, the current methods and data used to determine the health of the stock and ultimately inform management decisions prevent us from having an accurate picture of whether many red snapper are actually in the South Atlantic.

We now find ourselves in a catch 22. We regularly hear from our constituents that red snapper are so abundant they are all people can catch, yet the recreational season this year was only two days. As the stock has grown, and more encounters are happening out of season, more fish are being discarded and ultimately dying because of pressure-related injuries. These discards ultimately count against fishermen, leaving them with short or non-existent seasons, even after complying with all the rules.

Now, on top of a short red snapper season, it is our understanding that there are discussions about broad area or season closures of all bottom fishing to stop red snapper encounters altogether. This decision would be crippling economically for our states that rely heavily on our coastal economy. Area closures would have significant effects on commercial fisherman, for-hire captains, recreational fishermen, and all the businesses that support our robust fishing industry.

Before closures are considered, it is vital that we use the best and most up to date science when making management decisions for the red snapper fishery. To that end, Congress has provided $5.1 million over the last three years for the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count. This study, which began in 2021, will provide independent data on the red snapper population by 2025. To make a decision with such sweeping consequences when we have better data from the Great Red Snapper Count and state surveys on the way, would be irresponsible.

We urge you to suspend all consideration of area closures and other significant management decisions until the Great Red Snapper Count and other independent data is completed and integrated in the stock assessment process.