South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, along with attorneys general from Florida and Georgia, has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce requesting that management of the South Atlantic red snapper and other reef fisheries be shifted from federal oversight to the individual coastal states.
“For too long, red snapper management has been driven by flawed federal data and bureaucratic red tape,” said Attorney General Wilson. “South Carolina knows its waters, its fishermen, and its economy better than any federal agency ever will. It’s time to return management to the states where it belongs. I’m calling on the U.S. Department of Commerce to transition management of the South Atlantic red snapper and other reef fisheries from federal control to the coastal states, which are best equipped to ensure sustainable conservation and responsible access.”
The letter, addressed to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, cites federalism and state-level effectiveness as reasons for the proposed change. It argues that states have greater ability to collect relevant fishery data, tailor conservation strategies, and respond promptly to local issues.
The attorneys general recommend a phased approach for transferring authority, beginning with state-led Experimental Fishing Permits (EFPs) and emergency regulations to maintain oversight during the transition.
Among their requests, they ask the Commerce Department to use findings from the Great Red Snapper Count (GRSC) in federal decisions, arguing these findings provide a more accurate picture of red snapper populations than current federal data. They also propose delegating data collection responsibilities to state wildlife agencies and transferring overall management authority using mechanisms like exempted fishing permits and emergency regulations.
The full letter is available for review.
