S. 111 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 16, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDelays red snapper fishing restrictions in South Atlantic
This bill tells NOAA, the federal ocean agency, to pause new fishing restrictions for red snapper and related species in the South Atlantic region. The agency can't close fishing areas or restrict bottom fishing for these species until a major study about red snapper populations is completed and its findings are included in the next official assessment of the fish stocks.
How it affects you
Commercial and recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic region would be able to continue their current fishing activities longer, without facing new area closures or fishing restrictions, at least until the study results are reviewed and incorporated into official assessments.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 16, 2025)
Red Snapper Act of 2025
This bill prohibits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from restricting certain fishing activities in the South Atlantic until data from the South Atlantic Great Red Snapper Count study is integrated into the next South Atlantic red snapper Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment.
The bill provides that NOAA may not issue an interim rule, final rule, or Secretarial Amendment establishing an area closure or a bottom fishing closure for specified species until (1) the study is complete; and (2) the study data is integrated into the first South Atlantic red snapper SEDAR stock assessment that is carried out after the bill's enactment. The limitation applies to fishing for species managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region, including red snapper, grouper, and porgy.
(Closures generally restrict recreational and commercial fishing to prevent overfishing and for other conservation purposes.)
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 111
A BILL
Red Snapper Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 16, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.”