![Fight Over Fishing Escalates]()
States are trying to wrest away control of managing their cost. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
By Frank Sargeant, The Fishing Wire
It's the Tea Party all over again.
But this time, the rebellion is not about taxes but about fish management. U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, introduced the Gulf Fisheries Fairness Act in the U.S. House. The bill would extend the state water boundaries of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi to the 20 fathom (120 feet) line, allowing the states to manage reef fish species like snapper, grouper, amberjack and triggerfish.
In some areas, the rule would reach out to some 60 statute miles offshore, compared to the current 9 nautical miles, or about 10 statute miles, as set by federal law.
The bill, if it passes, seems made to order for a visit to...