26914607, 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: 26914607

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-14.0043	Recreational Red Porgy Season

PURPOSE:

A recent stock assessment for South Atlantic red porgy indicates the stock has been overfished for decades and is currently undergoing overfishing. Despite multiple rebuilding plans and subsequent management changes, additional harvest reductions are necessary to end overfishing. To reduce harvest and help improve stock status of red porgy, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council recently took action to modify recreational and commercial regulations for this species in South Atlantic federal waters. Off Florida, recreational red porgy harvest primarily occurs in federal waters, but can be harvested in state waters off southeast Florida. Any harvest in state waters contributes towards the overall stock quota. 

Consistent recreational regulations between Atlantic state and federal waters can help rebuild the red porgy stock, reduce the risk of in-season closures in federal waters, and aid in enforcement. This federal consistency would update state recreational rules to be consistent with current federal regulations.

At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rule to modify recreational regulations for red porgy in Florida’s Atlantic state waters to be consistent with recently approved federal regulations. Specifically, these recreational management changes include, reducing the red porgy bag limit from 3 to 1 fish per person/day and establishing an open season of May-June in Atlantic state waters. The purpose of this federal consistency action is to improve stock status of red porgy, which will help improve the health of this fishery for the long-term. The effects of this federal consistency action are to modify recreational limits for red porgy 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:

3/13/2023 Vol. 49/49

COMMENTS:

From 3/13/2023 To 4/3/2023 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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