68B-39.005: Commercial Harvest, Statewide Regulations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to amend the Commission’s Mullet Rule. The purpose of amending Rule 68B-39.005, F.A.C., is to rescind the July 1 through January 31 weekend closure on commercial harvest of striped mullet. The effect of this rule will be to provide additional opportunity for the commercial harvest of striped or black mullet, Mugil cephalus. The opening of the weekends for commercial harvest will allow for an increase in commercial landings while maintaining a healthy striped mullet population.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Mullet.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: James V. Antista, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850)487-1764
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
68B-39.005 Commercial Harvest, Statewide Regulations.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, no person shall harvest, possess while in or on the waters of the state, or land in any one day striped or silver mullet in quantities greater than the bag limit specified in Rule 68B-39.004, F.A.C., on any weekend during the period beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on January 31 of the following year.
(b) No person shall purchase, sell, or exchange, or offer to purchase, sell, or exchange any striped or silver mullet harvested on any weekend during the period beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on January 31 of the following year.
(c) A person who has lawfully harvested striped or silver mullet for commercial purposes prior to the beginning of a weekend may possess, aboard a vessel, mullet in quantities greater than the bag limit after the weekend begins, if the vessel is tied up to the docking facilities of a licensed wholesale saltwater products dealer, the vessel was docked at the facility prior to the beginning of the weekend, and the person is in the process of landing the striped or silver mullet at the dealer’s facility.
(d) No person shall harvest or possess silver mullet in or on waters of the east region in quantities greater than the bag limit specified in Rule 68B-39.004, F.A.C. during the period beginning February 1 and continuing through the last day of February each year. During this period, no person shall purchase, sell, or exchange, or offer to purchase, sell, or exchange any silver mullet harvested from waters of the east region.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–N ew 10-19-89, Amended 10-1-90, 9-1-91, 11-16-93, 3-3-97, 11-16-98, Formerly 46-39.005, Amended 7-1-03, ________.