24716199, 68B-23.004 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Notice: 24716199

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

SPANISH MACKEREL

Overview

RULE:

68B-23.004

Bag and Vessel Limits

PURPOSE:

Under limited circumstances, in state waters, passengers on for-hire trips that span more than 24 hours may possess and land double the bag limit for reef fish.  Federal regulations also allow passengers on multi-day for-hire trips in federal waters to possess and land over the daily bag limit under limited circumstances.  However, the timeframes, species, and bag/possession limits allowed by current federal rules differ from state rule. 

While most of these multi-day for-hire trips primarily occur in federal waters, consistent regulations for multi-day for-hire bag limits between state and federal waters will reduce regulatory confusion and aid in enforcement.  This federal consistency action will update FWC rules regarding these trips for Spanish mackerel to be consistent with rules for federal waters of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 

At its May 2021 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved to update state multi-day for-hire regulations of be consistent with rules in adjacent federal waters.  The purpose of this federal consistency action is to create consistency between state and federal waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico in order to ease regulatory compliance and aid in enforcement.  These proposed rules are not expected to significantly increase harvest or negatively impact conservation of Spanish mackerel because these trips occur infrequently, especially in state waters.  The effects of this federal consistency action are to establish multi-day bag limits for Spanish mackerel on for-hire trips under limited circumstances that are consistent with those in adjacent federal waters, thereby reducing regulatory confusion for fishermen and aid in enforcement.

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:

7/6/2021 Vol. 47/129

COMMENTS:

From 7/6/2021 To 7/27/2021 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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