South Atlantic Red Snapper State Data Collection and Management Exempted Fishing Permits
The National Marine Fisheries Service has issued 4 EFPs from the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina
***UPDATE*** NOAA Fisheries Update: Effective Immediately, No Recreational Red Snapper Fishing is Authorized Under the South Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permits - South Atlantic Red Snapper Fishing in Federal Waters Remains Closed
Announcing four exempted fishing permits (EFP) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF). Each EFP exempts the applicable state agency and participating fishermen from specific Federal regulations applicable to the recreational harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic. The applicants propose to pilot test state data collection and management strategies for the recreational harvest of red snapper in 2026. The outcomes of the 2026 EFPs are expected to guide the need for, and possible refinement of, future EFP applications in 2027 and 2028. The purposes of these EFPs are to improve data on recreational fishing effort, catch, and discards of red snapper in the South Atlantic and to inform the development of a long-term state-led management strategy for the recreational red snapper fishery.
On November 10, 2025, NMFS received the EFP applications from the FWC, GADNR, SCDNR, and NCDMF (or “the applicants”) for the recreational harvest of South Atlantic red snapper. NMFS reviewed the applications and provided feedback to the applicants on January 9, 2026. Updated applications addressing this feedback were received on January 23, 2026 (see below).
Exempted Fishing Permit Applications
Florida (FWC)
Georgia (GADNR)
South Carolina (SCDNR)
North Carolina (NCDMF)
Categorial Exclusion (NEPA documentation)
Permits
UPDATE: Please see FB26-026 for more information on the current EFPs below.
Florida (FWC)
Georgia (GADNR)
South Carolina (SCDNR)
North Carolina (NCDMF)
Fishery Bulletins
FB26-025: NOAA Fisheries Update: Effective Immediately, No Recreational Red Snapper Fishing is Authorized Under the South Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permits - South Atlantic Red Snapper Fishing in Federal Waters Remains Closed
FB26-020: NOAA Fisheries Issues Exempted Fishing Permits Authorizing State Management of Recreational Harvested Red Snapper in the South Atlantic in 2026
FB26-004: NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Four Applications for Exempted Fishing Permits to Pilot Test New Data Collection Methods and State Management Strategies for South Atlantic Red Snapper
Federal Register Notice
The Federal Register Notice published on February 13, 2026, and the comment period was open for 25 days after the date of publication, through March 10, 2026:
Federal Register Notice (91 FR 6827)
Note: The Federal Register Notice incorrectly stated that the North Carolina program would require all private anglers and for-hire fishermen to also apply to be data collectors under a state scientific or educational activity permit. The requirement was in the EFP application dated November 10, 2025, but was removed in the revision dated January 23, 2026.
More Information
- Return to the South Atlantic Branch Homepage
- Contact us or the applicable state agency for more details regarding their EFPs
- Return to all recent and current South Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permits