February 19, 2010. In what appears to be the best news in years for red snapper anglers and recreational fishing interests along the Atlantic coast, officials of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) have recommended that the planned update of South Atlantic red snapper populations be conducted as a benchmark study, meaning its findings could draw entirely new conclusions about the condition of red snapper stocks in waters under SAFMC management. Under an interim measure, red snapper fishing is currently closed in these waters—which range from the Carolinas to Key West—while management agencies consider more permanent rules to guide the fishery.

In this newest development, John Carmichael, Science and Statistics Program Manager, noted in a message to SAFMC members that “the benchmark process is the more appropriate approach for this assessment, as it will allow thorough consideration of numerous red snapper assessment issues raised by the Council in December 2009. Conducting a benchmark assessment will allow the workshop panels greater flexibility to incorporate new research and data sources and to reconsider key assessment assumptions in light of current information. Moreover, the benchmark process includes an independent peer review, which will help ensure that the methods and results are valid and robust, and offers increased opportunity for public input.”

Results of the new benchmark study should be presented to the SAFMC in December.

The change in status from an assessment to a benchmark for the study is deemed significant in a number of ways, including revisions of the conclusions of SEDAR 15, the study which precipitated the closure of the red snapper fishery.

“Everyone who has worked to defeat the assessment and closure should be commended,” said Karl Wickstrom of Florida Sportsman. “The benchmark group will include some different players, including possibly Dr. Frank Hester, and other persons who have challenged the data and the interpretations. In the new report, they will readdress whether overfishing has been occurring, and all the fishery goals will all be adjusted, I think.”

While there are no quick fixes on tap for the fiasco that has been red snapper management of late, this newest development at least is heartening.

“It apparently will take a year or more before the red snapper fishery will be open again, which is a tremendous shame. So many people have been devastated by the closure,” says Wickstrom. “But this is certainly a great development.”