By EMILY ABELLERA
Earlier this year, NOAA Fisheries awarded the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) three Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) to conduct three unique red snapper studies, enabling the agency to collaborate with anglers, test innovative ways to reduce snapper grouper discards, increase red snapper harvest opportunities, and improve angler satisfaction.
EFPs are permits that allow harvesting for specific purposes that are otherwise prohibited under current federal regulations. In these studies, some participants will be selected to catch and keep red snapper during a time that works for participants. And FWC is seeking applications now.
The three studies of this project take place off Florida’s east coast from the Florida/Georgia line south to the Dry Tortugas. Two studies, the FWC Study Fleet and the FWC Hot Spot Fleet, are conducted from the Florida/Georgia line south to Cape Canaveral. The third study, the FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet, is conducted from Cape Canaveral to south of the Dry Tortugas.
Each study is somewhat different, but all focus on testing alternative management strategies to reduce discards, improving reporting of catch and discard information via an FWC app, improving best fishing practices and fish identification through an FWC education course, and evaluating angler satisfaction of EFP participants relative to those who must abide by federal regulations.
The projects will occur simultaneously over 12 months, starting in August 2024 and running through July 2025. The project duration is broken up into four three-month quarters to allow the most harvest opportunities for anglers along the east coast of Florida. The application period for each quarter will open the month prior.
- Quarter 1: August 2024 to October 2024
- Quarter 2: November 2024 to January 2025
- Quarter 3: February 2025 to April 2025
- Quarter 4: May 2025 to July 2025
The FWC believes this collaboration has the potential to improve fisheries management in the South Atlantic. Florida’s recreational saltwater anglers are encouraged to apply to participate. More information is available at MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP.
How to Apply
Applications for Quarter 2 recently closed, and the next application period for all projects for Quarter 3 will be January 3-13.
FWC Hot Spot Fleet and FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet Projects: Applicants must apply at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Participants will be selected via lottery. Watch a video tutorial on how to apply.
FWC Study Fleet: Applicants must complete the Study Fleet online application form, which will go live during the open application period. All applications will be reviewed according to Study Fleet criteria prior to selection.
Emily Abellera is Public Information Coordinator at FWC
