25140380, 68B-41.004 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 25140380

Notice of Development of Rulemaking

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

DOLPHIN

Overview

RULE:

68B-41.004

Bag and Vessel Limits; Bycatch Allowance

PURPOSE:

The Commission will consider a draft rule proposal to modify recreational bag and vessel limits for dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters.  Currently, in Florida state waters, private recreational fishermen have a limit of 10 dolphinfish per person or 60 per vessel, whichever is less, and passengers on any vessels for hire trips are limited to 10 dolphinfish per person.  In recent years, private recreational and for-hire fishermen have raised concerns about the declines in size and abundance of dolphinfish in south Florida, and recently, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reduced the recreational vessel limit from 60 to 54 fish in Atlantic federal waters.  The FWC Commission has expressed interest in taking a proactive management approach and further lowering dolphinfish recreational limits for Atlantic state waters.  The effect of these rule amendments would be to reduce recreational bag and vessel limits in Atlantic state waters to help address stakeholder concerns on size and abundance of dolphinfish and clarify that captain and crew are prohibited from retaining a daily bag and possession limit.

SUBJECT:

Subject areas to be addressed in the rule development notice include reducing the recreational bag and vessel limit for dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters and clarify that captain and crew are prohibited from retaining a daily bag and possession limit.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

10/18/2021 Vol. 47/202

RELATED STATUTES
AND LAWS:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution, Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:

Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.)

RELATED COURT CASES:

Division of Administrative Hearings

FEDERAL eRULEMAKING
WEB PORTAL:

Regulations.gov

HOW TO LINK TO
THIS NOTICE:

http://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=68B-41.004&PDate=10/18/2021&Section=1

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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