"Marking another victory for sports anglers, NOAA Fisheries says it will allow five Gulf Coast states to set their own fishing seasons for red snapper in federal waters in 2018 and 2019.

Last year, the states — Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama — complained when the agency set a three-day season for recreational fishermen. That prompted Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to extend the season by 39 days.

Ross, who oversees NOAA Fisheries, said yesterday that a new two-year pilot program "continues the work we started last year.""

Rob Hotakainen reports for Greenwire April 18, 2018. [2]