A federal court has paused NOAA Fisheries’ red snapper exempted fishing permits for four South Atlantic states, including Florida, suspending the planned expanded recreational season.

The injunction does not affect Florida’s Gulf Coast red snapper season or commercial fishing in the Atlantic.

Florida’s red snapper season, which was slated to begin over Memorial Day weekend and run through early June before three October weekends, is temporarily suspended under the exempted permits.

The extension was part of an effort approved earlier in May to shift management toward state oversight and improve angler-reported data for better fisheries management.

South Carolina and other states argued for state oversight, saying local waters and fishermen are better managed locally and that data gaps justified an experimental approach.

NOAA Fisheries advised the public to check with state agencies for details, and Florida officials had sought comment from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.

DNR officials hope the injunction is temporary and that the exempted permits will be reinstated, emphasizing a longer-term goal of responsible management and better data.

Fishermen and charter captains expressed frustration over the delay, noting the historically short seasons and the potential benefits of expanded access for sustainable management.

Ongoing coverage highlights the broader impact on communities that depend on recreational red snapper fishing, including local businesses and anglers.

The plan included free experimental permits for eligible anglers that require reporting all harvests, with the landing page remaining active during the injunction.

Environmental and conservation groups, along with commercial interests, challenged the EFPs, arguing they could increase fishing pressure on a stock already listed as overfished.

Lawsuits from Earthjustice, Ocean Conservancy, and others contended the permits risk overfishing a rebuilding red snapper population, citing stock assessments showing overfishing and overfished conditions.