The Commission is considering changes to state regulations that would set the recreational harvest season for red snapper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico to be the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 23 for 2015) through July 12, resuming for the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of Labor Day weekend and Saturdays and Sundays throughout September and October. When October 31 falls on a Saturday, the last day of harvest would be Sunday, November 1. For 2015, this would result in a 70-day season. The purpose of this rule is to increase recreational red snapper fishing opportunities in Gulf state waters. The effect of this rule amendment is to balance the economic and social needs of Florida’s recreational anglers with the conservation needs of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Federal season lengths have been decreasing since 2008 resulting in decreased fishing opportunities throughout the Gulf. The 2015 recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters is expected to be the shortest on record for private recreational anglers despite an expected quota increase. At the February 2015 meeting, the Commission proposed an extended season for Gulf state waters to increase opportunities for anglers fishing in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.