The purpose of this rule development is to repeal the Special Acts of Local Application (Special Acts) for Manatee County. Chapter 19961 limits the type of nets that can be used near Manatee County municipalities. Chapter 26000 limits the ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Marine Fisheries

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68B-3.005Repeal of Chapters 19961, 26000, 27697, 61-2452, 63-1585, 67-1685, 67-1883, Manatee County Special Acts

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule development is to repeal the Special Acts of Local Application (Special Acts) for Manatee County.

Chapter 19961 limits the type of nets that can be used near Manatee County municipalities. Chapter 26000 limits the types of nets that can be used in Manatee County inland salt waters. Chapter 27697 specifies inland waters where haul nets can be used in Manatee County. Chapter 61-2452 closes certain interior waters of Anna Maria Island to net fishing, while Chapter 63-1585 closes most of the Manatee River to commercial fishing. This chapter also prohibits the use or possession of traps and certain net gears and establishes aggregate bag and possession limits of no more than 15 saltwater food fish on the Manatee River. Chapter 67-1685 closes certain saltwater canals of Manatee County to net fishing, limits the possession of certain types of gear, and sets possession limits for saltwater fish in these canals. The chapter also prohibits blocking waterways with nets and authorizes the Manatee County Commission to regulate the harvest of fish in the county. Chapter 67-1883 limits the types of gear that can be used in the salt waters of the City of Palmetto. These Special Acts will be repealed in order to allow current, relevant statewide rules to apply in Manatee County.

The effect of this rule will be to repeal a series of outdated saltwater fishing regulations, eliminate redundancy and conflicting rules, and increase consistency in current statewide regulations. The repeal of Chapters 19961, 26000, 27697, 61-2452, 63-1585, 67-1685, 67-1883, Manatee County Special Acts, will eliminate redundant and unnecessary regulation and create greater consistency among Florida fishing regulations by allowing existing statewide gear and fishing regulations already addressed in Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution, and Florida Administrative Code to apply in Manatee County.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Subject areas to be addressed in the rule development notice include the repeal of Special Acts regulating commercial fishing, possession and bag limits for saltwater fish, regulation of the harvest of fish, and the use and possession of nets in Manatee County.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 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.

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: Ms. Jessica McCawley, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2590 Executive Center Circle E., Station 201, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, [phone]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.