14219441, 68B-42.006 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 14219441

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

MARINE LIFE

Overview

RULE:

68B-42.006

Commercial Season, Harvest Limits

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this rule amendment is to establish commercial daily trip and vessel limits of 200 individual sea cucumbers. Currently, recreational harvesters are limited to five sea cucumbers per day per species, within the aggregate bag limit of 20 total marine life organisms.  However, there are no trip or vessel limits associated with commercial sea cucumber harvest.  Florida’s commercial sea cucumber fishery has historically been small, targeting sea cucumbers solely for the aquarium trade.  However, in 2013 the landings and catch-per-trip have increased several-fold in association with the development of an export market for sea cucumbers as food products.  Similar markets that have developed in the absence of appropriate harvest restrictions elsewhere in the world have led to unsustainable harvest rates and population crashes in only a few years.  The commercial trip and vessel limits will prevent this boom-and-bust pattern in Florida by ensuring sustainable harvest rates, thus sustaining the resource for future generations. 

The effect of this rule amendment will be the conservation of sea cucumber populations, as well as the corresponding fisheries.

SUMMARY:

The rule amendment would establish a daily commercial trip limit of 200 individual sea cucumbers and a daily vessel limit of 200 sea cucumbers, ensuring the sustainability of both the resource and the fishery.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

2/28/2014 Vol. 40/41

COMMENTS:

From 2/28/2014 To 3/21/2014 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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