March 21, 2018
By Florida Sportsman Editor
Thanks to a landmark agreement between the Gulf of Mexico states and the federal government in 2017, recreational fishermen had responsible access to red snapper in federal waters for the first time in many years. But that was only a temporary fix.?? Since then, the managers and state officials have been working on a complicated plan to allow state governments more leeway in managing the red snapper stocks off of their shores.
Fortunately, each of the five Gulf states has offered proposals that would allow them to manage the Gulf red snapper recreational fishery in 2018 and 2019 to fit their unique needs.??
Collectively these proposals, known as Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), will maximize fishing flexibility and improve data collection while adhering to prescribed conservation quotas. Given the expertise the Gulf States have shown in managing their fisheries, anglers have every reason to expect great things.??
Right now, anglers have the opportunity to weigh in on these proposed EFPs. Send a message today in support of the state EFPs for red snapper.
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