Exception to Statewide Spearing Prohibitions

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Marine Fisheries

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68B-20.004Exception to Statewide Spearing Prohibitions

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 40, No. 90, May 8, 2014 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.

68B-20.004 Exception to Statewide Spearing Prohibitions.

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in 68B-20.003 or 379.2425, F.S., upon request and with reasonable assurance that the activity take will not harm the environment nor be a danger to public health or safety, the Executive Director, or his designee, shall issue permits authorizing the harvest of non-native marine species by spearfishing from areas where the activity is otherwise prohibited. The permit shall be for the limited purpose of facilitating the removal of non-native species from Florida Waters.

(2) Permits shall only be issued to the director of an organized tournament or event. For the purposes of this rule, an “organized tournament or event” means a fishing competition or other event that involves ten or more registered participants.

(3) through (8) No change.

(9) The permit shall not authorize any activities within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, within the boundaries of a federal park or other waters managed by the United States Department of the Interior, or within any state park or any other waters managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection unless it is accompanied by any and all permits that may be required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Association, the Department of the Interior, or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for such activities or events.