New Law Gives S.C. Control Over State Snapper Grouper Fisheries
New Law Gives S.C. Control Over State Snapper Grouper Fisheries
South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance and Coastal Conservation Association South
Carolina Celebrate Passage of S. 219, Paving the Way for State Control of Fisheries
COLUMBIA, SC – May 13, 2025 — Governor Henry McMaster last week signed into law
Senate Bill 219, marking a significant victory in the movement toward state management of the
snapper-grouper fishery.
Championed by State Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown), the new law sets up a statespecific fishing season for all 55 species in the snapper-grouper species complex.
“This new law reflects South Carolina’s commitment to common sense, homegrown solutions,”
said Governor Henry McMaster. “Our anglers deserve a system that’s fair, science-driven, and
tailored to our state’s unique waters, not a one size fits all approach. With S. 219, we begin
putting our state in the driver’s seat to manage our resources responsibly and protect access for
current and future generations.”
The law’s signing comes at a crucial time, just weeks after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
announced a record-breaking 126-day red snapper season for anglers on the Gulf of America in
2025.
In contrast, anglers in the South Atlantic (South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida)
may only have one day of snapper fishing and could potentially lose all access to bottom fishing
for 55 stocks of fish in parts of the region due to Amendment 59, proposed by the Biden
Administration seven days before he left office.
S.C. new state law establishes fishing seasons, catch limits, and minimum size requirements for
55 species of fish under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan out to three nautical
miles, which were previously governed solely by federal restrictions.
“This law affirms South Carolina’s capacity to manage our state waters with precision and
purpose and will assist the agency in expanding data collection efforts” said Dr. Tom Mullikin,
Director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. “We are committed to
developing and using locally informed science to create more fishing access while preserving
marine ecosystems. This law is proof that conservation and access can go hand in hand.”
The law builds upon Senator Goldfinch’s previous efforts to exclude red snapper and black sea
bass from federal regulations in state waters. The new law expands this framework to include all 55 species under the snapper-grouper complex, giving South Carolina greater control over its
fisheries.
This represents a critical step toward securing local control over South Carolina’s fisheries,
addressing the overregulation that has historically limited opportunities for the state’s anglers
and boaters.
“For too long, we’ve been bound by federal regulations that don’t make sense for South
Carolina,” said Senator Goldfinch. “While Gulf states are expanding their fishing seasons,
we’ve continuously faced more restrictive measures based off flawed science and data practices
from NOAA, leading to just a single day of snapper fishing and threatened closures. This bill
gives us the starting point we need to protect our fisheries to maximize fishing opportunities for
South Carolina’s anglers. This law is not just a win for anglers; it’s a win for everyone who
values our state’s natural resources.”
NOAA has admitted multiple times over the past 13 years that its Marine Recreational
Information Program (MRIP) data, used to inform fishing regulations, is flawed, most recently
confessing to overestimating catch by up to 40%. These repeated errors in data management
underscore the need for a more reliable, locally informed approach to fisheries management.
“Senator Goldfinch has been a tireless advocate for our state’s fishing communities,” said Gettys
Brannon, President and CEO of the South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance. “This law
empowers South Carolina to begin taking control of its fisheries, ensuring that our anglers and
boaters are on a path where they no longer face the restrictive and often misinformed regulations
imposed by NOAA. This is a win for the recreational fishing community and the state’s
economy.”
Scott Whitaker, Executive Director CCA South Carolina, echoed these sentiments: “This law
marks a significant shift in how we manage our marine resources, moving away from
overbearing federal oversight and towards local, science-based decision-making. We are grateful
for the leadership of Senator Goldfinch, Governor McMaster, Director Mullikin and all those
who have supported this legislation to protect both our environment and our fishing heritage.”
S. 219’s passage is also praised by national conservation leaders, including Jeff Angers,
President of the Center for Sportfishing Policy, who said: “South Carolina is at the front of
the pack with its can-do attitude; its stand-out director and its newly enacted snapper grouper
seasons in state waters.”
South Carolina’s boating and fishing industry contributes $6.5 billion annually to the state’s
economy and supports more than 27,100 jobs. The passage of S.219 marks a major step
toward long-sought state control over the snapper-grouper fishery in the South Atlantic — an
approach that has served as both an economic boon and a blueprint for sustainable fisheries
management in the Gulf of America since its implementation in 2017. This state-led model has
not only expanded access for anglers but also strengthened conservation outcomes through more
accurate, locally driven data collection.
South Carolina’s congressional delegation has consistently advocated for state management
measures, recognizing the need for local control over the state’s valuable fisheries resources.
The law received broad national support from the Center for Sportfishing Policy, Congressional
Sportsmen’s Foundation, American Sportfishing Association, and Coastal Conservation Association.
About the SCBFA
The South Carolina Boating & Fishing Alliance (SCBFA) is a nonprofit membership
organization representing the state’s boat and fishing tackle manufacturers, which generate a
$6.5+ billion annual economic impact and support 27,100 jobs. SCBFA unites industry
members, dealers, retailers, boaters, and anglers to protect and grow this vital economic sector
while advocating for public policy that conserves South Carolina’s waterways. Since its launch
in February 2021, the SCBFA has become a cornerstone of the state’s boating and fishing
community. Russ Tomlinson of Sportsman Boats and Phenom Yachts chairs the SCBFA.
For more information, visit www.SCBFA.com.
About CCA South Carolina
Established in 1986, Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina (CCA SC) is a resource
first, science based, angler advocate grass roots organization. CCA SC and its members are
dedicated to the sustainability and wise stewardship of the Palmetto State’s marine resources and
recreational saltwater anglers’ access to them. For more information,
visit www.ccasouthcarolina.com
Certain Tax Policies Could Be Hindering Public Access to Fishing
While taxes are essential for funding public services and conservation efforts, there are concerns that certain policies could unintentionally impede public access to recreational boating and fishing opportunities. CCA South Carolina is joining boating and fishing groups across the state on S.317. Tomorrow, the South Carolina Senate Finance Property Tax Subcommittee will have the chance to advance this piece of legislation and reduce costs associated with access to our public waterways for thousands of South Carolina recreational anglers and boaters. Striking a balance between funding conservation efforts and ensuring that fishing remains accessible to the public is key to maintaining a healthy and sustainable fishing environment. Given South Carolina is a nationally recognized leader in both the boat manufacturing and recreational fishing industries, you can view CCA South Carolina’s full letter to Senate leadership on the matter here.
Reach out to your senator and provide them with your valuable input on this issue!
Signs Point to State Management
The Path Is Clear
State management of our fisheries is the off ramp from fisheries chaos.
By Ted Venker
Conservation Director
Coastal Conservation Association
Three recent events indicate that federal fisheries management is finally lurching toward its only logical conclusion. Plagued by suspect data and erratic regulations for decades, it appears that even NOAA Fisheries may be embracing state management as an off ramp from the chaos.
Gulf Gag Grouper
In January, NOAA Fisheries released preliminary gag grouper catch estimates for the 49-day 2023 recreational season in the Gulf of Mexico. The total gag grouper catch – using the discredited Marine Recreational Information Program-Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES) – was estimated at 1,677,591 pounds and was broken down into:
- Private Angler: 1,399,513 pounds gross weight
- Charter:162,832 pounds gross weight
- Shore:106,602 pounds gross weight
- Headboat – 8,644 pounds gross weight
The 2023 gag grouper catch limit for private anglers was 403,759 pounds, so a catch estimate that exceeded that limit by more than four times set off alarm bells and a storm of protest. It was particularly absurd because it reported 106,000 pounds of gag grouper caught from shore. NOAA Fisheries pledged to review the MRIP-FES numbers and, if warranted, adjust the final catch estimates. About a month later, in February 2024, NOAA announced that the Private Angler catch total was revised from 1.4 million pounds to 708,000 pounds, citing “outliers” in the data. With the estimate still more than twice the allowed catch limit, a train wreck was still on the horizon.
Fortunately, the State of Florida’s reef fish survey (SRFS) was collecting data on gag grouper, and the SRFS Private Angler gag catch estimate was 240,000 pounds. Using the SRFS estimate and dropping the outlandish shore harvest, recreational anglers caught 411,476 pounds, including charter and headboat catches, during the 49-day season, a very slight overage suggesting very minor reductions in the 2024 season.
The State of Florida had already been approved to begin state management of gag in 2024 using the SRFS system, but at its meeting in April the Gulf Council announced it was dropping the shore estimate entirely and converting the 2023 annual catch limit into SRFS units, effectively implementing state management of gag retroactively to get out of their current mess.
When the dust cleared and the conversions were made, albeit somewhat mysteriously, the 2024 gag season went from non-existent to likely about half as long as last year. But had it not been for a more reliable and efficient state data collection program casting a floodlight on the utter failure of MRIP-FES, we would have been facing yet another federal fisheries management calamity.
Gulf Red Snapper
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced a record 103-day Gulf red snapper recreational season in 2024, the longest Florida season since the Gulf states were delegated management of red snapper in 2018. Prior to that, under federal management, the season had dipped to a record low projection of just three days in 2017.
“I am proud to announce that this snapper season will be the longest season since our State took over red snapper management in the Gulf,” Gov. DeSantis said.
The contrast between state and federal management is particularly keen in Florida. While the governor is proudly touting the state’s work in the Gulf of Mexico, just across the state in the South Atlantic, red snapper seasons remains the exclusive purview of NOAA Fisheries, and the season there is hovering around just one or two days, at best, despite a red snapper population that is estimated to be larger than at any time under management.
That contrast is not lost on Gov. DeSantis who says he would “love to take over the management of the Atlantic red snapper and not have the federal government do this paltry two day like they’ve done. I mean, that’s just not acceptable.”
We couldn’t agree more.
State managers in the South Atlantic are dealing with the erratic nature of NOAA’s recreational data in a number of species, but support for taking on the responsibility of establishing their own recreational data systems is not as widespread as it was in the Gulf, primarily due to funding concerns. Hopefully, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia will be encouraged by Gov. DeSantis’ commitment and begin taking steps to improve management of their recreational constituency.
Congressional Shot Across the Bow
Finally, in April, an impressive, bipartisan collection of two dozen Representatives and Senators sent a pointed letter to NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Janet Coit expressing their displeasure with both the agency’s recreational data program and its stock assessment process. The letter urged action in both areas “to find a viable path forward to improve the data used for management and rebuild confidence and trust with the American public.”
Regarding the recreational data program, the elected officials said, “The more precise, accurate, and timely state surveys in the Gulf of Mexico can provide the critical information on recreational landings needed to meet the requirements of federal fisheries management. While we are encouraged that NMFS has committed to reviewing MRIP-FES and working with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and the states to resolve differences and prioritize state surveys, we are disappointed in NMFS’ lack of urgency in making the transition.”
The letter also called attention to NOAA’s dismissal of the Great Red Snapper Count, an independent assessment of the red snapper population in the Gulf of Mexico funded by Congress that showed at least three times as many snapper as NOAA’s previous assessments, and its continued failure to produce timely stock assessments on other species.
“The continued insistence on using poor models and questionable data over more accurate, comprehensive, absolute abundance estimates—as well as the consistent inability to complete stock assessments on time—calls into question whether NMFS should be conducting stock assessments at all,” the letter states.
In just the last few weeks, the state management model has provided record access for red snapper and prevented an inexplicable disaster for gag grouper, while NOAA’s continued failures drew a scathing rebuke from 24 members of Congress. The path to a more logical, competent future in fisheries management, led by the states, seems, finally, to be at hand. NOAA should either board that train or get off the track.