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Federal Judge Blocks Expanded Atlantic Red Snapper Season in Four States
The judge cited environmental concerns and estimates that Florida’s expanded season could bring in up to 485,000 recreational catches.
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras halted the expanded Atlantic red snapper season just before it began on May 22, issuing an injunction that blocks NOAA's plan to exempt states from key fishing restrictions.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis led a coalition of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to assume management of the recreational snapper fishery under President Donald Trump's "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" executive order signed last year.
The nonprofit Ocean Conservancy estimated recreational catches could reach up to 485,000 in Florida alone during the expanded season, prompting commercial fishermen like North Carolina fisherman Jeff Oden to fear stock depletion and lost income.
Florida wildlife officials denounced the ruling as the work of a "rogue federal judge," while some fishermen involved in the lawsuit reported receiving threats after DeSantis falsely accused them of trying to commandeer the quota.
Scientists urge caution, noting NOAA estimates roughly one-quarter of released snapper die, yet recreational angler Chris Kemp argues the stock is thriving after his group hooked a dozen fish within 40 minutes.