18168893, 68B-60.003 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Home

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 18168893

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

Barracuda

Overview

RULE:

68B-60.003

Regional Size Limits

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this rule is to create barracuda conservation measures for south Florida.  These rules will create new size regulations in state and federal waters off south Florida.  

In recent years, stakeholders throughout southeast Florida and the Florida Keys have voiced concerns about declines in barracuda numbers in that region of the state.  The limited available scientific data suggests that barracuda density and average size in the Florida Keys may be declining, while fishing and diving stakeholders report drastic declines in density and average size throughout south Florida.  At the September 2015 Commission Meeting, the Commission adopted a bag limit of 2 barracuda per person with a vessel limit of no more than 6 barracuda for recreational and commercial harvesters in south Florida beginning November 1, 2015.  These changes are effective in state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties.  The Commission also directed staff to gather additional information and determine whether or not further consideration of a size limit was warranted.  Based on the available scientific information and public feedback gathered since that time, the proposed rule will create a slot limit that will provide additional conservation benefits while allowing all users continued acces to the fishery. 

The effect of this rule will be to establish a slot size limit with a lower limit of no less than 15 inches fork length and an upper limit of no more than 36 inches fork length for all barracuda harvested from state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties, with an allowance of one barradua per vessel larger than 36 inches fork length per day.  These regulatory changes are intended to increase the average size of barracuda in the region and contribute to the rebuilding of the local population.

SUMMARY:

This rule will create a slot limit of 15 to 36 inches for barracuda to address the concern of size and density declines in south Florida.  This slot limit is expected to further conservation goals for this fishery while continuing to allow all users access to the resource.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

10/20/2016 Vol. 42/205

COMMENTS:

From 10/20/2016 To 11/10/2016 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.