Red Snapper Season Cut?

Orange Beach charter boat captain George Pfieffer says if the federal government shortens this year's red snapper season, he could be forced to find another way to make a living.

"In between both of my boats, I'll probably lose somewhere between 150 to 250 thousand dollars," says Pfieffer. "We've lost a lot of business due to the economy and with the red snapper season being shortened, that's compounded the problem."

Federal regulators want to cut the red snapper season from 74 days to between 51 and 60 days. The feds say the cut would help stabilize the red snapper population many believe was over-fished last year. But recreational boat captains say that information is inaccurate.

"Snapper is not an issue," says Tom Steber, owner of Zeke's Landing Marina in Orange Beach. "There's probably 25 times more snapper out there than there's ever been."

"It doesn't just affect the fishermen," says Pfieffer. "It affects the whole community. Hotels, motels, restaurants, everybody. Billions of dollars up and down the coast are lost due to economic impact and the cutback of snapper."

Federal officials could make a decision on whether or not to shorten the season later this week.