The Commission will consider a draft rule proposal to modify recreational bag and vessel limits for dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters. Currently, in Florida state waters, private recreational fishermen have a limit of ....

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Marine Fisheries

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68B-41.004Bag and Vessel Limits; Bycatch Allowance

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Commission will consider a draft rule proposal to modify recreational bag and vessel limits for dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters. Currently, in Florida state waters, private recreational fishermen have a limit of 10 dolphinfish per person or 60 per vessel, whichever is less, and passengers on any vessels for hire trips are limited to 10 dolphinfish per person. In recent years, private recreational and for-hire fishermen have raised concerns about the declines in size and abundance of dolphinfish in south Florida, and recently, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reduced the recreational vessel limit from 60 to 54 fish in Atlantic federal waters. The FWC Commission has expressed interest in taking a proactive management approach and further lowering dolphinfish recreational limits for Atlantic state waters. The effect of these rule amendments would be to reduce recreational bag and vessel limits in Atlantic state waters to help address stakeholder concerns on size and abundance of dolphinfish and clarify that captain and crew are prohibited from retaining a daily bag and possession limit.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Subject areas to be addressed in the rule development notice include reducing the recreational bag and vessel limit for dolphinfish in Atlantic state waters and clarify that captain and crew are prohibited from retaining a daily bag and possession limit.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 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 REGISTER.

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, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, Florida 32399, and [phone].

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