Published on: 12993846. The purpose of this rule amendment is to standardize the format and rule language in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (Commission) weakfish rules. The weakfish Chapter (68B-47) has been reformatted to simplify the rule language, making it easier to understand and improving the enforceability of the regulations. This rulemaking is part of a rule cleanup effort of Division 68B that will standardize chapters by using the same format for each rule that regulates species, making specific provisions easier to find. Additionally, rule language has been clarified and outdated language has been removed.
The effect of this amendment will be improved rule clarity and enforceability and simplified rule language, making the language easier to understand. This rule amendment will not affect the meaning of the rule nor change the intent of the rule.
Published on: 12427948. The purpose and effect of this rule development notice is to address possible rule amendments for weakfish in the 2013 calendar year as a result of stock assessments, federal regulatory actions or other management or enforcement requirements, or to address amendments resulting from the agency’s comprehensive review of Division 68B.
Published on: 10827254. The purpose and effect of this rule development notice is to address possible rule amendments for weakfish in the 2012 calendar year as a result of stock assessments, federal regulatory actions or other management or enforcement requirements.
Published on: 8673369. The purpose of this rule amendment is to modify the Commission’s Weakfish Rule to comply with new weakfish regulations set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in response to a weakfish stock assessment of the entire Atlantic coast’s weakfish population. Adopting these regulations will contribute to the rebuilding of the weakfish stock along the entire Atlantic coast. In addition, these rule amendments would create a weakfish management area that would resolve identification issues in northeast Florida between weakfish, sand seatrout, and the hybrid population that has been created from interbreeding between weakfish and sand seatrout. The changes to this rule would: 1) add a definition for harvest for commercial purposes and weakfish management area, 2) amend the definition of weakfish, 3) lower the recreational bag limit from four fish to one fish per person per day inside the weakfish management area, 3) establish a commercial harvest limit of 100 pounds per person or per vessel, per day or per trip, whichever is greater, inside the weakfish management area, 4) state that the presence of weakfish aboard a vessel that is actively fishing within the weakfish management area shall constitute prima facie evidence that such weakfish were harvested from that area and will be subjected to the limits for recreational and commercial fishing inside the area. The effect of these rule amendments is Florida will aid in the rebuilding plan for weakfish along the entire Atlantic coast. By adopting these regulations the State of Florida will be contributing to the effort to reduce fishing pressure on weakfish and allow the populations to expand. This should help ensure a larger sustainable harvest for the future. In addition, establishing a weakfish management area where weakfish regulations would be applied to all weakfish-like fish should eliminate the identification confusion for anglers and allow weakfish regulations to be enforced.
Published on: 8233183. The purpose and effect of this rule development notice is to address possible rule changes in the 2010 calendar year for weakfish as a result of stock assessments, federal regulatory actions or other management and enforcement requirements.
Published on: 6724736. The purpose and effect of this rule development notice is to address possible rule changes in the 2009 calendar year for weakfish as a result of stock assessments, federal regulatory actions or other management and enforcement requirements.