The Commission will consider requiring private recreational fishers to sign up for the State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS) to harvest or possess mutton snapper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, yellowtail snapper, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Marine Fisheries

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

68B-14.009Reporting Requirement

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Commission will consider requiring private recreational fishers to sign up for the State Reef Fish Survey (SRFS) to harvest or possess mutton snapper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, yellowtail snapper, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, lesser amberjack, almaco jack, banded rudderfish, or hogfish when aboard a vessel in or on Florida Waters. The SRFS will replace the Gulf Reef Fish Survey (GRFS), which expires June 30, 2020. One effect of the potential rule amendments would be improved recreational reef fish data collection through identification of the population of offshore reef fish recreational fishers in Florida. This would continue and expand the benefits realized by the GRFS beyond the survey’s expiration date, as well as throughout the state, by providing better recreational harvest data and fisheries management opportunities for Florida’s reef fish species, including red snapper. Additionally, outdated rule language would be removed from this rule.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Subject areas addressed in the rule development notice include references to rule modifications that would replace the Gulf Reef Fish Survey with the State Reef Fish Survey. Private recreational fishers would have to sign up for the SRFS to harvest, attempt to harvest, or possess certain reef fish species aboard a vessel. Outdated rule language would be removed.

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.

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, 1875 Orange Avenue East, Tallahassee, FL, 32311, [phone].

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