Ala. study questions triggerfish decline in Gulf

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama study questions whether triggerfish populations are declining as sharply as reported in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Press-Register reports (http://bit.ly/PPxM5B ) that University of South Alabama researchers last week concluded that federal stock assessments may be showing a decline in triggerfish populations for a simple reason — because the fishes’ small mouths make them harder to catch with new hooks fishermen are required to use.