The purpose of this rule amendment is to establish administrative penalties for violations relating to the blue crab management. These administrative penalties would apply when criminal violations such as trap molestation, trap theft, illegal bartering of tags, and fishing with untagged traps are committed. The purpose of creating Rule 68B-45.008, F.A.C., is to fulfill a requirement of Florida Statute 379.366(4)(a) that states “the Commission shall adopt by rule the administrative penalties authorized by this subsection”. The proposed draft rule amendment would create a standardized tiered penalty system that allows the penalties to be assessed relative to the severity of the violation and the number of previous violations up to the maximum amount allowed as defined in Section 379.366 F.S. This proposed rule would be consistent with existing rules establishing administrative penalties for the stone crab and spiny lobster fisheries in Chapters 68B-13 and 68E-18, F.A.C., respectively.