A federal plan to ban bottom fishing in a large area off Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia faces a federal court fight from a national fishing organization. The Recreational Fishing Alliance asked a judge in Jacksonville Tuesday to strike down the 4,800-square-mile closure and other rules finalized last week to protect red snapper from overfishing.
The rules would ban bottom fishing for dozens of species in the closure area to prevent accidental snapper catches, starting June 1.
The fishermen’s group argues the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration far overreached its authority in ordering that and other restrictions.