Robust fisheries are critical to Florida. Florida is one of the nation’s premiere destinations for recreational fishers, and commercial fishing contributes immensely to our economy, quality of life, and to the character of our coastal communities. Statistics from a recently released NOAA report identify that Florida commercial fishing sales generated $5.2 billion and 103,000 jobs. Recreational fishing generates $7.6 billion in sales and 131,000 jobs. Numerous fish species found off of Florida are under increasing pressure, with many already overfished (fish abundance too low to support long-term sustainable yields) or currently experiencing overfishing (harvest levels exceeding sustainable yield). Florida restaurants, once renowned for fresh local seafood, are coming up short on popular local dishes as species decline and reliance on foreign imports grows.
