U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) led GOP members of the Georgia congressional delegation in requesting that the Trump Administration allow Georgia to manage red snapper and other reef fish species in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
“Georgia’s recreational fishing industry has long struggled under federal fisheries data that limit access and impose heavy-handed restrictions, often set by bureaucrats far removed from our coastal communities,” wrote the seven members in a June 13 letter sent to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“State management, as proposed, would empower Georgia to tailor conservation and fishing policies to local needs, mirroring the successful Gulf of America model where state oversight allows for 127 fishing days compared to the Atlantic’s single day under federal rules,” they added.
Rep. Carter and his colleagues expressed “strong support” for a request from Governors Brian Kemp (R-GA), Ron DeSantis (R-FL), and Henry McMaster (R-SC) to grant an Exempted Fishing Permit that would allow for state management of red snapper and other reef fish in the south Atlantic.
The governors’ request, the members wrote, highlights “the stark disparity in management outcomes while also noting that federal fishing policies prioritize control over sustainable use, a concern echoed by our constituents in the fishing sector.”
The congressional members also noted that state-led management would enhance data collection, improve angler access, and ensure sustainable practices.
“We urge the Department of Commerce to work with the administration to cut federal red tape and grant Georgia, alongside Florida and South Carolina, authority to manage these fisheries,” the Republican delegation wrote.