February 15, 2024 — On February 12, 2024, NOAA Fisheries recommended five projects for funding totaling $879,211 to explore new, innovative approaches to better understand and reduce red snapper dead discards and increase fishing opportunities in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery.
NOAA Fisheries recognizes that recreational and commercial fishers, fishery managers, and other stakeholders are challenged and frustrated by short fishing seasons for red snapper and high levels of dead discards. The most recent South Atlantic red snapper population assessments indicate the stock is recovering but experiencing too much fishing mortality due to the number of discarded fish and subsequently dying. We identified a need to study effective alternative management strategies that reduce dead discards to improve the status of snapper-grouper stocks, including red snapper, and to optimize the social and economic benefits for the snapper-grouper fishery better.
In September 2023, NOAA Fisheries requested proposals under a Notice of Funding Opportunity for projects that explore new approaches to understand better and reduce red snapper dead discards and increase fishing opportunities in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. Proposals were accepted from September 7 through November 20, 2023. NOAA Fisheries is recommending funding the following five projects, totaling $879,211.