ABSTRACT
The management of Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, is among the most contentious fisheries resource issues in the Gulf of Mexico. Although allowable harvest levels have been increasing as the stock continues to rebuild and expand its range, federal recreational fishing seasons have become progressively shorter because fish are larger and annual catch limits are reached in less time. In response, states bordering the Gulf of Mexico have lengthened Red Snapper state recreational fishing seasons for private fishers, which are inconsistent with the federal season. This state “noncompliance” with federal regulations has caused further decreases in the duration of the recreational fishing season for private fishers in federal waters, with fishers showing increased dissatisfaction with and mistrust of management. We examined federal season duration, estimated number of federal and state trips that 234target Red Snapper, mean size of Red Snapper landed, and species caught concurrently with Red Snapper on a Red Snapper target trip to determine their effects on the number of recreational trips taken by private fishers. In recent years (2012–2016), there has been an inverse relation between federal season duration and recreational Red Snapper effort in targeted trips. Red Snapper target trips peaked in 2013 for all federal and state U.S. Gulf of Mexico waters. In 2013, Florida had the highest number of Red Snapper target trips and 38% of private fisher landings. Alabama had the second highest number of Red Snapper target trips, but accounted for 47% of the private fisher landings. The mean weight of Red Snapper landed from federal and state waters significantly increased from 1996 to 2016 (P < 0.001). The top species landed with Red Snapper during private fisher Red Snapper target trips from both federal and state waters were Gray Snapper, Lutjanus griseus, and King Mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla. These two species have fewer federal recreational management restrictions compared with Red Snapper. Conflicts have developed as federal resource managers were required by law to rebuild the Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper stock under the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act, while Gulf of Mexico states were under increasing pressure from private fishers to increase catch limits for Red Snapper in state waters. In 2019, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council voted to delegate management authority of Red Snapper for private fishers to each Gulf of Mexico state, with the Red Snapper stock still remaining under the auspices of federal management. This measure allows each Gulf state to establish different fishing season durations, bag limits, and size limits and request time-area closures to better meet the needs of their respective private fishers. Each state is constrained to its allocated portion of the Gulf-wide private fisher catch limit for Red Snapper. Time will determine whether this new method of management will address the needs of private fishers while still meeting the rebuilding plan for Red Snapper.
