Rutherford Statement on President Trump’s Recreational Fishing Executive Order

October 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14430, Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation: “As Co-Chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I am pleased to see President Trump sign an EO to strengthen management of our fisheries, advance science-based conservation, support artificial reef development, and expand recreational access to our fisheries,” said Rutherford . “It’s critical we improve data collection to better manage our fisheries and extend recreational fishing seasons for the anglers and coastal businesses that rely on these seasons.” Rutherford continued , “This EO directs federal agencies to improve recreational fisheries data, strengthen state-federal partnerships, expand access for recreational anglers, and modernize the way America’s fisheries are managed. I have long encouraged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the real concerns surrounding accuracy of federal recreational fishing estimates, particularly in the South Atlantic red snapper fishery. Every year, I hear from anglers that the red snapper are so abundant it is all they can catch. Yet, each year, they only receive a couple day long federal season. Our anglers and coastal businesses should not have to pay the price for uncertainty in our broken federal data collection system. President Trump’s EO directly addresses these concerns by directing NOAA to establish a threshold for unreliable federal estimates and consider replacing them with more precise state-collected data.” “ The Fisheries Data Modernization and Accuracy Act , which I introduced in the House, to better meet regional and state fishing needs, empowers state management of recreational fisheries data programs, increase data transparency, and expand fishery-independent science. This legislation closely aligns with changes made in this EO. The EO directs federal agencies to modernize electronic reporting, explore new technologies for fisheries science, and streamline regulation and permitting. States, like Florida, have demonstrated that they can collect high-quality fisheries data. With the help of President Trump, we are one step closer to Making Fishing Great Again.” Issues : Congress Environment