A Louisiana congressman is fighting to overhaul federal fisheries regulations, including those governing popular charter boats that lure tourists from around the country to the Pensacola area to fish for red snapper.

U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves, a Republican, sponsored the Modern Fish Act and the Red Snapper Act of 2017. Both bills passed the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources this month and should be debated by the full House early next year. “Passage of these landmark policy changes represent major movement toward regional flexibility, tailored management strategies that favor local over federal control, better data collection and enhanced responsiveness to the needs of recreational angles and mixed use fisheries,” Graves said in a news release.

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