The US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced $2 million in funding to support red snapper recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

NOAA said this week that the funds will be used to improve data collection and enhance scientific models through partnerships with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies at the University of Miami.

Approximately $1m will go to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to expand an at-sea data collection program in the western Gulf of Mexico, covering the for-hire fisheries (charter-based fishing services) in Louisiana and Texas.

According to the announcement, this will be the first time all five gulf states have active at-sea data collection for for-hire fisheries in federal waters. The data gathered is expected to improve understanding of red snapper discards – fish that are caught but then released back into the water for various reasons – a critical factor in fisheries management.

Another $1m will be allocated to the Cooperative Institute at the University of Miami to develop advanced surveys using acoustic technology. These AI-supported surveys aim to improve red snapper detection and abundance estimates, providing more precise data to guide management decisions.

NOAA officials emphasized that better data collection will enable more reliable management of red snapper and other fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico to adapt to climate-related changes.

These efforts are part of a larger initiative announced in June 2023, involving $3.3 billion in federal investments focused on building resilience to climate change across the US, the announcement said.