Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter, representing Georgia’s Republican delegation in the House, has spearheaded an initiative urging the Department of Commerce to allow state management of red snapper and other reef fish species in the South Atlantic. This request was articulated in a letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The letter voices “strong support” for granting an Exempted Fishing Permit that would enable states to manage these fisheries. The Congressional Sportsmen Foundation claims that red snapper populations are currently at their healthiest, making federal restrictions on recreational fishing unnecessary.
The letter criticizes federal data and restrictions on Georgia’s recreational fishing industry, stating they impose limitations and heavy-handed rules often decided by those not directly involved with coastal communities. The proposal suggests state management could align with local needs, similar to the Gulf of America model where state oversight permits 127 fishing days.
“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 letter continues.
The signatories include several members from Georgia’s House Republican delegation: Austin Scott, Mike Collins, Rick Allen, Barry Loudermilk, Brian Jack, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
A full version of the letter is available for public reading.
