18948385, 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: 18948385

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-14.005	Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear: Allowable Gear, Incidental Bycatch, Violation

PURPOSE:

This federal consistency action would modify existing reef fish regulations to increase the Atlantic black sea bass recreational bag limit from five to seven fish and require buoy line marking for commercial Atlantic black sea bass traps that is consistent with current and proposed regulations for Atlantic federal waters.  The purpose of these rules is to achieve consistency between the Commission’s Atlantic black sea bass regulations and regulations in adjacent federal waters.  

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) recently approved two management changes for Atlantic black sea bass.  First, they approved increasing the Atlantic black sea bass recreational bag limit from five to seven fish per person to provide anglers greater access to the federal recreational quota.  Under the previous five-fish bag limit, recreational anglers were only able to harvest between 36 to 57% of their quota.  This bag limit increase took effect August 12, 2016, in Atlantic federal waters.  Second, they approved a buoy line marking requirement for the commercial black sea bass trap fishery so that in the unlikely event of an endangered right whale becoming entangled in black sea bass trap gear, the gear could be undisputedly linked to the fishery and the Council could respond accordingly.  The line marking requirement took effect in federal waters on March 21, 2017.  

The effect of the rule amendment is that state and federal regulations can be applied more consistently to recreational and commercial fishing activity for black sea bass in the Atlantic.  The recreational bag limit increase will allow anglers greater access to their quota and create consistent regulations across state and federal waters.  Commercial buoy line marking requirements will create consistent trap regulations between state and federal waters.

SUMMARY:

Jessica McCawley, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Suite 201, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, and (850) 487-0554.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution and 120.54 (6), Florida Statutes

LAW:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution and 120.54 (6), Florida Statutes

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

5/9/2017 Vol. 43/90

COMMENTS:

From 5/9/2017 To 5/30/2017 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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