EDF Files Amicus Brief to Conserve South Atlantic Red Snapper

(WASHINGTON) – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has filed an amicus brief to prevent overfishing of South Atlantic red snapper in the case Southeastern Fisheries Association v. Lutnick. The brief underscores EDF’s position that exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina would lead to unsustainable recreational fishing and hurt everyone that values this iconic fish. 

Red snapper has been historically sought-after, but the stock remains overfished and under a plan to rebuild the stock back to healthy population levels. In 2025, the recreational annual catch limit for red snapper was exceeded in just two days of fishing. For 2026, the EFPs authorized a 39-day fishing season for Florida, and 62-day seasons for Georgia, North and South Carolina. 

“America’s fisheries are a vital public resource that support coastal economies and sustain hardworking fishermen and fishing communities. That’s why responsible, science-based management is so important. We must balance the scales between sustainable access to these fisheries today and ensuring there are enough fish to catch in future years,” said EDF’s Senior Director for Fisheries & Oceans Public Affairs Reggie Paros. 

“These fishing permits dramatically expand recreational access beyond what was allowed in 2025 and do so outside the traditional safeguards established under federal law. Recreational anglers are an important part of our fishing heritage and efforts to improve recreational data collection are noble, but data indicates that extending seasons at this scale risks undermining the long-term sustainability of the red snapper fishery.”

“Experimental fishing permits were never intended to bypass the conservation and accountability measures required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. We are deeply concerned by the broader trend of circumventing protections that have been critical to rebuilding and maintaining healthy fisheries, and we urge the courts to reconsider this decision before lasting harm is done to the resource and the communities that depend on it.”