Summary


The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.001, F.A.C., would add golden tilefish to the list of restricted reef fish species. The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.0035, F.A.C., would increase the minimum size for black sea bass recreationally harvested in the Atlantic Ocean from 11 inches in 2007 to 12 inches in 2008; decrease the minimum size for vermilion snapper from 11 inches to 10 inches in the Gulf of Mexico, and increase the recreational minimum size of vermilion snapper from 11 inches to 12 inches in the Atlantic Ocean. The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.00355, F.A.C., would change the minimum size of imported vermilion snapper to from 11 inches to 10 inches. The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.0036, F.A.C., would add golden tilefish; set bag limit of gag, red, and black grouper at zero for captains and crew on for hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico; establish a one-fish recreational bag limit for snowy grouper within the five-fish aggregate grouper bag limit in the Atlantic Ocean; establish a one-fish recreational bag limit for golden tilefish within the five-fish aggregate grouper bag limit in the Atlantic Ocean; raises the recreational bag limit for red porgy in the Atlantic Ocean for one-fish to three-fish per person per day. The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.0045, F.A.C., would remove the requirement for Class I and Class II red snapper licenses for the commercial harvest of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico; establishes commercial trip limits in the Atlantic Ocean that are concurrent with federal trip limits; establishes a black sea bass harvesting season of June 1 through May 31 each year in the Atlantic Ocean; removes the April 22 through May 31 commercial harvesting season for vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico; prohibits persons harvesting for commercial purposes from harvesting or possessing the recreational bag limit of reef fish species on the same trip. The proposed amendment of Rule 68B-14.005, F.A.C., would require a minimum 2-inch mesh for the back panel of black sea bass traps in the Atlantic Ocean; require the removal of black sea bass traps in the Atlantic Ocean when the commercial quota is reached.