The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting four states from expanding their recreational red snapper fishing seasons under exempting fishing permits (EFP) issued earlier in May.
“The South Atlantic EFPs for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are no longer in effect until further order from the Court, and the recreational harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic remains closed,” NOAA Fisheries said in a 21 May statement. “All recreational fishing under these South Atlantic EFPs is not authorized, including tomorrow’s start date of May 22, 2026, for Florida’s recreational red snapper season.”
Frustrated by extremely short recreational red snapper seasons in federal waters, officials from the four states have been petitioning the federal government to allow the states to manage the fisheries instead. Last year, the states officially asked NOAA Fisheries to approve EFPs that would allow them to greatly expand recreational fishing for red snapper under pilot programs that would, ostensibly, improve data collection.
On 1 May, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump approved the four EFPs, and the states quickly announced expanded recreational seasons. Florida announced a season expansion from two days to two months, starting 22 May.
“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 incompetent Biden Administration tried to SHUT DOWN THE OCEANS to our Fishermen, entirely. We love and respect our Fishermen and, unlike the Democrats, will only do good for them. To all those who fish “Red Snapper” – TRUMP and NOAA are delivering for you. ENJOY!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
However, the EFPs were quickly challenged in court. The Southeastern Fisheries Association, which represents commercial fishing interests, filed a lawsuit to block the EFPs, and conservation groups quickly filed an amicus brief opposing the EFPs. Both groups argue that the EFPs would increase fishing pressure on the Southeast Atlantic red snapper population, which was listed as subject to overfishing in 2021. Federal fisheries managers have kept recreational and commercial fishing limited since to help the stock recover.
“Opening the red snapper season for two months – when last year it was two days – is fast-tracking the crash of this species,” Ocean Conservancy Senior Director of Fish Conservation Meredith Moore said in a release. “There’s just no way the stock can endure this level of fishing pressure so we can continue to fish for red snapper in the long term.”
On 21 May, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction halting the EFPs from going into effect. The injunction comes a day before Florida’s expanded recreational season was set to start.
“On May 21, 2026, a rogue federal judge sided with activists in an attempt to block Floridians from exercising their right to fish through the recently approved Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for Atlantic Red Snapper issued by NOAA Fisheries earlier this month,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said in a social media statement following the ruling. “However, the agencies stand together in opposition of this delay tactic and will continue fighting for our fishing communities.”
In response, Florida has rescinded its executive order implementing an expanded recreational season under the EFP. Recreational anglers will still be allowed to catch red snapper in state waters, with a default bag limit of 2 snapper per person with a 20-inch size limit.
“As for Florida’s historic EFP, when the EFP is unfrozen and ultimately restored, FWC will issue an updated EO reestablishing the extended red snapper season, which will increase the nautical miles available for fishing. Moreover, FWC officers have been notified of the unpredictable nature of the situation and will ensure boaters are provided education within our jurisdictional waters,” FWC said.
