“The federal government is needlessly and hurtfully enforcing out-of-date red snapper regulations while hard-working men and women are losing their livelihoods in the Gulf Coast charter fishing industry,” James said.

MOBILE –March 16, 2010 — Tim James, Republican candidate for Governor of Alabama, today joined forces with Alabama sport fishermen, including a leading advocate for recreational fishing, to urge federal officials to rewrite unreasonable regulations on red snapper catches.

Marc Kennedy of Mobile, local business owner and outspoken critic of federal restrictions on red snapper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, thanked James for his support.

“With the next Governor of Alabama joining in, along with our Alabama congressional delegation, we can raise the level of awareness and make a difference in Washington. It’s time for action,” Kennedy said.

“The federal government is needlessly and hurtfully enforcing out-of-date red snapper regulations while hard-working men and women are losing their livelihoods in the Gulf Coast charter fishing industry,” James said.

He commended U.S. Senator Richard Shelby and U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner for their efforts in behalf of Gulf fishermen. “This will require a coordinated effort with state and federal officials working together with Alabama men and women who are vitally concerned with this issue,” James added. “If elected Governor of Alabama, I will join with chief executives of other Gulf Coast states to go to Washington in efforts to help save jobs in this important industry.”

James said fisherman along the Gulf Coast have suffered severe cutbacks in their catches for too long as red snapper stocks have been restored. “The health of the red snapper fishery is strong, and we must be mindful of the environmental concerns,” he said. “Alabama’s tourism industry has been hard hit by these out-of-date federal regulations. That means losing jobs at a time when every job must be saved.”

He urged the federal government to move forward with updated regulations that reflect new data showing dramatic growth in the red snapper population off Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

James commended efforts of grassroots groups such as the Recreational Fishing Alliance and Coastal Conservation Association for providing up-to-date scientific information to the federal agencies regulating the fishing of Gulf Coast snapper. He said their persistence may well pay off with new, more reasonable regulations.