During February Recess, NOAA Administrator Dr. Neil Jacobs made several announcements at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show that will modernize recreational fisheries management. Dr. Jacobs has attended the Miami show for more than two decades as a private angler, and he understands how federal decisions translate on the water.
First, NOAA announced it will reopen the 2008 North Atlantic right whale Vessel Speed Rule through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). This does not alter the rule, but rather it begins a formal review process. The regulation was finalized nearly 20 years ago. Since then, vessel technology, navigation systems and on-the-water detection tools have improved considerably. The ANPRM allows the agency to evaluate updated science and modern technology before determining whether changes are warranted.
NOAA also confirmed that Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) applications from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina to pilot state-led recreational red snapper management have been published in the Federal Register and are now open for public comment.
For years, South Atlantic anglers have faced federal seasons of zero, one or two days. Under the EFPs, Florida has proposed a 39-day season, and Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have each proposed 62 days in 2026, covering both state and adjacent federal waters. These are pilot programs, not permanent changes, but they represent a significant departure from the current model and a test of whether improved state data can support longer, defined seasons while maintaining conservation safeguards. (Collaborative federalism works!)
Finally, NOAA announced a new effort to modernize recreational fisheries data collection. Through the Recreational Angler Partnership Improvement Directive (RAPID), NOAA is inviting willing states and regional partners to help design the next generation of recreational data systems, replacing its fatally flawed Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). Many states have invested in more timely and precise data collection. RAPID creates a pathway to evaluate how that state expertise can inform federal management decisions.
Each one is good news. Taken together, these actions reflect a shift toward incorporating updated data, modern technology and greater state collaboration into federal fisheries policy. Each initiative will move forward through its own formal public process. We will continue to engage as each advances, and we are hopeful.
