27906917, 68B-14.0036 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 27906917

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

REEF FISH

Overview

RULE:

68B-14.0036	Recreational Bag Limits: Snapper, Grouper, Hogfish, Black Sea Bass, Red Porgy, Amberjacks, Tilefish, Exception, Wholesale/Retail Purchase Exemption
68B-14.0039	Recreational Grouper and Tilefish Seasons

PURPOSE:

South Atlantic snowy grouper and blueline tilefish primarily occur in federal waters but can be harvested in state waters off southeast Florida. In Atlantic federal waters, these species are managed with quotas, bag or vessel limits, and an open harvest season to prevent overfishing. The most recent stock assessment for snowy grouper indicates that the stock has been overfished for decades and is currently undergoing overfishing. Additionally, the South Atlantic blueline tilefish stock is at risk of overfishing due to recreational landings exceeding the recreational quota in recent years. To reduce harvest and help improve stock status of these species, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) took action last year to modify recreational and/or commercial regulations for each of these species. 

Consistent recreational regulations between Atlantic state and federal waters can help rebuild the snowy grouper stock, reduce the risk of overfishing for blueline tilefish, reduce the risk of in-season closures in federal waters for these species, and aid in enforcement and compliance. This federal consistency would update Atlantic state recreational rules to be consistent with current federal regulations.

At its February 2023 meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rule to modify recreational regulations for snowy grouper and blueline tilefish in Florida’s Atlantic state waters to be consistent with  federal regulations. Specifically, these recreational management changes include reducing the snowy grouper bag limit from 1 per person/day to 1 per vessel/day and establishing an open season of May-June in Atlantic state waters and all state waters of Monroe County, and reducing the blueline tilefish bag limit from 3 to 2 fish per person/day and prohibiting for-hire captain and crew from retaining a bag limit in Atlantic state waters and all state waters of Monroe County. The purpose of this federal consistency action is to improve stock status, which will help improve the long-term health of these reef fish stocks. The effects of this federal consistency action are to modify recreational limits for snowy grouper and blueline tilefish in Atlantic state waters that are consistent with those in adjacent federal waters, thereby reducing regulatory confusion for fishers and aiding in enforcement.

SUMMARY:

Jessica McCawley, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

12/27/2023 Vol. 49/249

COMMENTS:

From 12/27/2023 To 1/10/2024 (14 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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