Purpose


The purpose of this rule amendment is to consolidate and clarify the definitions for various legal fishing gears by moving gear descriptions currently located in some of the species-specific chapters of Divisions 68B, F.A.C. into the existing Gear Definitions rule in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (Commission) marine fisheries rules and clarifying several of the definitions currently found in the rule. These definitions for gears used in multiple species chapters will apply to all marine fisheries, unless otherwise stated in species-specific rules. The proposed rule will add the following definitions to rule 68B-4.002: Frame Net, Paired Trawl, Otter Trawl, Snagging, Spearing, and Trawl. The definitions of Hook and Line Gear and Multiple Hook will be clarified. The effects of this rule will be simplified rule language and improved rule clarity and enforceability.