The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) are deeply disappointed by the decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granting a preliminary injunction against the 2026 South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) pilot programs approved by NOAA Fisheries for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. This preliminary injunction was issued just hours before Florida’s Atlantic red snapper season under their EFP was set to begin, leading to immediate confusion, frustration and economic disruption for anglers, for-hire operators, marinas, tackle shops and coastal communities that had prepared for the opening of the 2026 season.
The Court’s decision temporarily blocks implementation of the state-led pilot programs, which were designed to test key recreational data collection improvements and a state-led management approach while providing expanded recreational access to the South Atlantic red snapper stock, similar to previous efforts in the Gulf.
South Atlantic red snapper is not a stock in jeopardy. Anglers and managers have worked for years to rebuild this fishery, and those efforts have been wildly successful. The latest stock assessment confirms what anglers see on the water – the Atlantic red snapper stock is as abundant now as ever. Despite this success, the recreational fishery in recent years has been limited to one- or two-day federal harvest seasons, which has led to excessive discard mortality estimates and a derby-style fishery that results in foregone yield, poses safety risks, and erodes public confidence in South Atlantic federal fisheries management. The EFP pilot programs were specifically designed to collect the science necessary to move beyond these management challenges through partnership with anglers and for-hire businesses.
Economic consequences of this decision will be substantial throughout the South Atlantic region. ASA and CCA are currently working with partners and stakeholders to gather information that demonstrates the full scope of these impacts.
ASA and CCA continue to stand with NOAA Fisheries and the participating states as they evaluate all available options moving forward. We remain committed to advancing science-based recreational fisheries management that supports conservation, improves data collection and provides reasonable public access to healthy fisheries.
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