NMFS notifies fishermen that it has extended the authorization for shrimp trawlers to use limited tow times in the inshore waters of Alabama as an alternative to the otherwise required use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) through November 30, 1998. Without this extension, the authorization would have expired November 6, 1998. NMFS has been notified by the Director of the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Alabama Director) that debris conditions in Alabama's inshore waters resulting from the passage of Hurricane Georges have persisted or even worsened. Because the use of TEDs may continue to be impracticable, NMFS has extended the authorization to use limited tow times. The intent of this extension is to provide adequate protection for threatened and endangered sea turtles when debris conditions may make TED-use impracticable.