Red Snapper Season in Gulf Extended 6 Days by Florida Officials
The federal and state recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico waters has been extended six days. The season will close July 17, with the last day of the season being July 16.
NOAA Fisheries decided to extend the season because bad weather in June led to decreased fishing opportunities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) decided to go consistent with any federal season increases at its June 28 meeting in Palm Beach Gardens.
The FWC had originally set the 2012 season to June 1 through July 10 at its May Commission meeting.
Florida state waters in the Gulf extend from shore to nine nautical miles; federal waters extend beyond that line to 200 nautical miles.
More information about red snapper fishing, including changes to the 2012 season, is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing (click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and then “Gulf Red Snapper”).
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
