Governor Ron DeSantis just made one bold move that left fishing regulators fuming

Governor Ron DeSantis is standing up for Florida’s fishermen against federal overreach.

The Biden administration’s heavy-handed fishing regulations devastated coastal communities.

And Governor Ron DeSantis just made one bold move that left fishing regulators fuming.

DeSantis leads multi-state rebellion against federal fishing restrictions

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, along with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick demanding state control over red snapper fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

The letter specifically called out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan as a severe threat to recreational fishing in the region.

“For too long, management of Atlantic red snapper has failed to keep pace with the successful growth of the stock,” the governors wrote in their joint letter. “Although fishermen have seen explosive growth in the number of red snapper, harvest opportunities have dwindled.”

The governors aren’t just complaining – they’re pointing to Florida’s successful management in the Gulf of Mexico as proof that states can do better than federal bureaucrats.

“Since Florida took over Gulf Red Snapper management, our stock has flourished, and consequently, our season has grown from 3 days to 127 days,” DeSantis stated.

Biden’s fishing regulations strangled coastal economies

The stark contrast between the Gulf and Atlantic fishing seasons reveals the absurdity of current federal regulations.

Under the Biden administration, Atlantic recreational red snapper fishing was restricted to just ONE DAY in 2024.

Meanwhile, Florida-managed Gulf waters enjoyed a 126-day season.

This ridiculous disparity has devastated coastal communities that depend on recreational fishing for their economic survival.

Amendment 59, created under the Biden administration, prohibits fishing of 55 different species for much of the year, despite abundant populations of these fish.

The governors warned this could lead to widespread closures in popular fishing areas across the region.

“Flawed data and regulations…threaten the economies of our coastal communities,” the governors’ letter explained.

DeSantis sees opportunity with Trump administration

Governor DeSantis had repeatedly requested that the Biden administration relinquish control of Atlantic red snapper management to the states, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

With Donald Trump back in the White House, DeSantis is optimistic about finally achieving this victory for Florida’s fishermen.

“I think the administration is supportive of it. I have mentioned it to the President, but I definitely mentioned it also to the Secretary of Commerce,” DeSantis said earlier this spring. “And I know they’re still filling out NOAA and they’re doing, still, all that. And there’s a lot of irons in the fire, but returning this to state management would be a home run.”

The governors thanked the Trump administration in their letter for supporting their pursuit of local management.

“We are thankful to you and President Trump for your willingness to empower states to assume management of their own natural resources, including red snapper, in the South Atlantic,” they wrote.

Florida officials say they could implement the change within the year, with Georgia and South Carolina to follow suit.

States know better than Washington bureaucrats

This battle over fishing rights perfectly illustrates a fundamental truth of conservative governance – that states know how to manage their own resources better than distant federal bureaucrats.

The Biden administration’s one-size-fits-all approach to fishing regulations ignored the reality on the ground.

Despite fishermen reporting “explosive growth” in red snapper populations, federal regulators continued to choke off access to these abundant resources.

NOAA’s Sustainable Fisheries Division claimed last year that South Atlantic red snapper remained “overfished” – a claim directly contradicted by the experience of local fishermen and state wildlife officials.

If Governor DeSantis and his fellow governors succeed in wresting control from federal bureaucrats, it will be a major victory not just for fishermen, but for the principle of state sovereignty against federal overreach.