Florida Snapper Season Shortened

SANDESTIN, Fla. (AP) - Florida wildlife officials have cut the
fishing season for red snapper in state waters in the Gulf of
Mexico.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted
Thursday to set the recreational red snapper harvest season from
June 1 through Sept. 30.
State officials say the change is consistent with the current
red snapper season in Gulf federal waters. U.S. regulators say red
snapper are overfished in the Gulf.
Many recreational fishermen opposed the state's change. They say
the federal limit is based on flawed, outdated population data.
A red snapper population assessment in the Gulf of Mexico is
scheduled this year. The results are expected to be announced in
2010.
Florida's previous red snapper season ran from April 15 through
Oct. 31.

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