Designation as Restricted Species; Season; Repeal of Special Act, Gear, Trap Construction, Commercial Trap Marking Requirements, Trap Working Regulations, Trap Transfer
FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:
68B-13.005Designation as Restricted Species; Season; Repeal of Special Act
68B-13.008Gear, Trap Construction, Commercial Trap Marking Requirements, Trap Working Regulations, Trap Transfer
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. 46 No. 119, June 18, 2020 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
68B-13.005 Designation as Restricted Species; Season; Repeal of Special Act.
(1) No change.
(2) The season for the harvest, possession and sale of stone crab claws shall be from October 15 through May 1 April 9, each year. No person, firm or corporation, shall harvest, or have in his or her possession, regardless of where taken, or sell or offer for sale, any stone crab of any size, or any parts thereof, from May 2 April 10 through October 14, each year, except for stone crab claws placed in inventory by a wholesale or retail dealer as defined in Section 379.414, F.S., prior to May 2 April 10 of each year.
(3) No change.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 7-1-00, Amended 7-1-03, 10-1-20.
68B-13.007 Restrictions on Size and on Transport and Possession of Stone Crabs and Stone Crab Claws.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3) Permissible temporary possession of whole stone crabs.
(a) Whole Live stone crabs may be temporarily possessed held on board a vessel while such vessel it is at sea for the purpose of determining compliance with size requirements until such time as the claws are removed, provided that the following conditions are met:
1. A person may not possess wWhole stone the crabs unless such crabs are held may only be possessed within a checker box using one of the following configurations:.
a. Up to two checker boxes, each A checker box may be no larger in dimension than 36 inches, by 24 inches, by 24 inches, or a volume of 12 cubic feet; or,.
b. Any combination of checker boxes, provided that the total volume does not exceed 24 cubic feet No more than two checker boxes may be used on board a vessel at any time.
2. Whole stone crabs are held in a checker box must be shaded containers and wet with sea water every 30 minutes, or more often if necessary, to keep the crabs in a damp condition.
3. Checker boxes may Containers shall not be stacked in a manner which compresses the crabs.
(b) No change.
(4) No change.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 7-1-00, Amended 10-1-20.
