Barracuda is now in jeopardy as commercial harvest has risen dramatically. Listed as an unregulated species by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, the barracuda brings about $1 a pound at market. Data provided by FWC shows the Florida Keys had a 65% increase in commercial barracuda landings in 2012 over the previous year.

For sports fishermen, the barracuda puts up a good fight and is therefore esteemed by anglers as an excellent gamefish.  Barracuda sightings provide many a thrill to snorkelers and divers in the waters of the Keys and are also vitally important high-order predators, which are crucial to maintaining a balance in all marine ecosystems.  

The recent decline of barracuda in the Caribbean is attributed to their overfishing for commercial sale. The same fate is inevitable for Florida's barracuda if no action is taken to protect them.