US President Donald Trump has announced the approval of all state permits for the 2026 recreational red snapper fishing season, a move he claims will expand access for anglers across southeastern coastal states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described the decision as a “huge win” for fishermen, stating that “for years, our Great Fishermen have been punished with VERY short Federal fishing seasons despite RECORD HIGH fish populations and the States begging to oversee these permits.”
The policy involves coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which sets quotas and seasons in federal waters. Recreational red snapper fishing has long been tightly controlled at the federal level, often limited to brief openings that critics say restrict access. At its lowest point in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the spawning stock fell to about 11% of historical levels, prompting strict conservation measures under a rebuilding plan through 2044.
Several southeastern states have pushed for greater flexibility in setting seasons and expanding fishing days. Supporters argue the changes reflect a recovering population and improve access. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a November 2025 release: “State management and expansion of Gulf snapper season have been a major boon for our Gulf of America communities… The Trump Administration has taken action to rein in the bureaucracy and return this power to the states.”
However, Ocean Conservancy, a US-based nonprofit, warns of growing signs of trouble under the Gulf system, including declining average fish size and reports of anglers traveling farther for catches. The group notes the Gulf population is about 10 times larger, meaning sustainable approaches there may not apply to smaller, more vulnerable Atlantic stocks.
Marine scientists and conservation groups caution that loosening federal oversight could increase overfishing risk. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, annual catch limits must prevent overfishing, but critics say longer seasons could undermine these safeguards. Ocean Conservancy’s Meredith Moore stated: “These exempted fishing permits are an end run around sustainable management. Just last year, NOAA’s own analysis showed a two-day season was needed to prevent overfishing.”
Federal regulators set the South Atlantic recreational catch limit at 22,797 fish, yet a recent two-day Florida season landed 24,885 fish. The group estimates catches could reach 485,000 fish over a 39-day season—more than 20 times the annual limit and potentially in breach of federal law. JP Brooker, Florida conservation director, added: “Overfishing means sacrificing the chance to teach the next generation to fish in order to fill coolers this season.”
Source: www.aljazeera.com