22730027, 68B-30.003 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 22730027

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

KING MACKEREL - ATLANTIC FISHERY

Overview

RULE:

68B-30.003

Commercial Harvest Limits; Recreational Bag Limit; Gear Specifications

PURPOSE:

The commercial king mackerel fishery is managed through a complex series of seasons, vessel limits, and quotas that vary regionally and throughout the year.  Many of these regulations are based on seasonal and geographical variations in fish availability, fishing practices, and market demand.  This fishery occurs in both state and federal waters, and FWC rules for commercial king mackerel harvest mirror regulations for adjacent federal waters.  

NOAA Fisheries recently approved revised commercial vessel limits for king mackerel harvest off east Florida, which were requested by commercial fishermen from that area.  These changes balance the need for vessel limits that are large enough to make commercial fishing economically feasible with the desire for continuous access to king mackerel during the months of March through September. 

At its February 2019 meeting, the FWC Commissioners modified the king mackerel Atlantic fishery commercial vessel limits to be consistent with federal regulations.  The purpose of the proposed action is to maintain uniform regulations for commercial harvest of king mackerel in Atlantic state and federal waters.  The effect of the proposed federal consistency action is to ensure state and federal vessel limits continue to be consistent, thereby easing compliance and eliminating confusion for commercial harvesters.  

The federal consistency action will update the reference to federal commercial vessel limits in 68B-30.003 to refer to the new federal vessel limits that took effect September 11, 2019.

SUMMARY:

Emily Norton, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850) 487-1764

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

12/17/2019 Vol. 45/243

COMMENTS:

From 12/17/2019 To 1/7/2020 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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