Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida’s 2018 recreational red snapper season was the most robust of the South Atlantic states according to the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) newest report, Economic Contribution of the 2018 Recreational Red Snapper Season in the South Atlantic. The report, conducted by Southwick Associates, examined the season’s financial contributions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and measured five types of economic activity including jobs, salaries and wages, GDP, total output and tax revenue.
The report showed the success of the six-day August red snapper season for the Sunshine State’s east coast:
The study used participation and spending data provided by both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the states. Economic contribution estimates used NOAA-based economic models.
“This economic study of the 2018 South Atlantic recreational red snapper season proves what Florida’s more than four million anglers already know; Florida’s angling and boating industry is a huge economic driver for our state,” said Kellie Ralston, ASA’s Southeast Fisheries Policy Director. “In only six days last August, this season added $8.5 million in salaries and wages, $12.6 million in GDP, $3.8 million in tax revenue, and most importantly, provided 171 jobs to Floridians.”
“ASA and the sportfishing industry have appreciated the recent, limited seasons for red snapper but recognize that much remains to be done to improve management of this stock,” Ralston continued. “It is critical that we pursue opportunities to extend the recreational South Atlantic red snapper season that expand access to this species for anglers without sacrificing conservation gains. We will continue to work closely with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to accomplish that goal through collaborative efforts like our recent recreational workshops on innovative management options for the snapper grouper fishery.”
Earlier this month, NOAA Fisheries announced the limited opening of commercial and recreational red snapper seasons for 2019 in South Atlantic federal waters. The 2019 recreational season will be open for five days, beginning Fri., July 12 and closing Sun., July 14, 2019. Waters will again open on Fri., July 19 and Sat., July 20, 2019.
For a copy of the full report click here, or for more information on the 2019 red snapper seasons click here.
About Keep Florida Fishing®
Keep Florida Fishing® is an advocacy arm of the American Sportfishing Association with the goal of ensuring Florida anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both. Florida is considered the ‘Fishing Capital of the World’ and home to more than four million licensed anglers, supporting 173,000 jobs, providing $12.2 billion in economic activity and contributing more than $53.3 million for fisheries conservation. Learn more at www.KeepFloridaFishing.org. Find Keep Florida Fishing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
About American Sportfishing Association®
American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association committed to representing the interests of the sportfishing and boating industries as well as the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry and anglers a unified voice when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. ASA invests in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous, as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America's 49 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation's waterways through Keep America Fishing, our national angler advocacy campaign. America's anglers generate nearly $50 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation's economy creating employment for 800,000 people.
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Contact: Christina Johnson, 850.391.5040, christina@on3pr.com