The most recent hogfish stock assessment found the Keys/East Florida stock of hogfish is overfished and undergoing overfishing. Federal law requires the Council to implement regulations to end overfishing and to rebuild the Florida Keys/East ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Marine Fisheries

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68B-14.0042Recreational Hogfish Season

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The most recent hogfish stock assessment found the Keys/East Florida stock of hogfish is overfished and undergoing overfishing. Federal law requires the Council to implement regulations to end overfishing and to rebuild the Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved a May 1 through October 31 recreational hogfish season in Atlantic federal waters off Florida and in Gulf federal waters south of 25°09’ North Latitude as a measure to rebuild the Keys/East Florida stock of hogfish and prevent overfishing while optimizing recreational harvest opportunities. The November through April closed season corresponds with the hogfish spawning season. Implementation of the federal rule is pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The purpose of this proposed rule is to establish a May 1 through October 31 recreational season for harvest of hogfish in all state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and south of 25°09’ North Latitude in the Gulf of Mexico to be consistent with the pending federal rule. Recreational harvest of hogfish from these waters outside this season would be prohibited. The recreational fishery takes the vast majority hogfish harvested from the Keys/East Florida stock, and over 68% of recreational harvest from this stock occurs in state waters. Consequently, recreational harvest in state waters will be a determining factor in rebuilding this stock and ending overfishing. In addition to aiding in rebuilding of the stock, consistent state and federal regulations will simplify regulations for recreational harvesters.

The effects of the proposed rule are to make the state recreational hogfish season consistent with the pending rule for adjacent federal waters, and to facilitate the rebuilding of the Keys/East Florida hogfish stock. This will create a predictable hogfish season for recreational harvesters, which also overlaps with the popular diving season in the Keys. Lastly, Keys/East Florida hogfish will be protected from recreational harvest during their spawning season.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Recreational fishing season for hogfish in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean and south of 25°09’ North Latitude in the Gulf of Mexico.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution and 120.54 (6), FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution and 120.54 (6), FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: During the Commission’s regular meeting November 16-17, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day

PLACE: University of South Florida Student Center, 200 6th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: the ADA Coordinator at [phone] If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Jessica McCawley, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Suite 201, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 and [phone]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.