The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the opening of the fourth application period for the Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) Project, beginning on April 4. Interested participants have until April 14 to submit their applications. The project has been ongoing since August 2024, and further information is available on MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP.
Applicants for the FWC Hot Spot Fleet and the FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet Projects must apply through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. Selection will occur via a lottery system. A tutorial video is available to assist with the application process. For the FWC Study Fleet, applicants need to complete an online form, after which their submissions will be reviewed and participants selected based on specific criteria set by FWC staff.
In 2024, the FWC received three EFPs from NOAA Fisheries aimed at facilitating studies on Florida’s east coast. These studies are intended to engage anglers, explore strategies to decrease red snapper discards, and optimize both harvest opportunities and angler satisfaction. EFPs are special permits granted for specific purposes that are typically not permitted under existing federal regulations.
The three studies are conducted from the Florida/Georgia line extending southwards. The FWC Study Fleet and FWC Hot Spot Fleet undertake operations from the Florida/Georgia border to Cape Canaveral, while the Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet operates from Cape Canaveral to the Dry Tortugas. These studies focus on a combined snapper-grouper bag limit, improving the accuracy of catch and discard data through an FWC app, and analyzing satisfaction levels among EFP participants compared to those adhering to current federal rules.
FWC expressed enthusiasm about the project’s prospects, “This collaboration has the potential to significantly improve fisheries management in the south Atlantic, giving us all hope for a better future.” They encourage Florida’s saltwater anglers to apply and learn more about the EFP initiative at MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP.
For further inquiries, individuals can contact the FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554.
