Purpose


The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) is considering several changes to state reef fish regulations based on stakeholder input. The purpose of these rule amendments is to update reef fish regulations to align with stakeholder requests. Several of these changes would result in increased consistency with regulations for adjacent federal waters, may result in longer fishing seasons for federally-permitted commercial fishermen, or reduce regulatory dead discards. In addition, this rulemaking includes several technical changes to rule, corrects outdated references to federal rules, streamlines gag and black grouper minimum size limit language, and clarifies that the import size limit for gag grouper is 24 inches, which is the same as the minimum size limit for harvest statewide. The effect of the proposed rule amendments would be: • Blueline tilefish is designated a restricted species. This designation means commercial harvesters must have a Restricted Species Endorsement (RS) for harvest and sale of blueline tilefish. This may result in a longer blueline tilefish season for federally-permitted Atlantic commercial fishermen. • The commercial minimum size limit for almaco jack is set at 20 inches fork length for Atlantic state waters. This will end harvest of small fish, increase reproductive potential of the stock, and may lengthen the fishing season. The South Atlantic Council recently approved a 20-inch commercial minimum size limit for Atlantic federal waters. • The minimum size limit for blackfin, queen, and silk snapper is removed. These deep-water fish are extremely susceptible to barotrauma, thus allowing fishermen to keep any of these fish that they catch will reduce dead discards. This matches current and pending regulations in federal waters. • Outdated commercial vessel limit and season language for Atlantic red porgy is removed. Because other provisions in FWC rule require commercial harvesters to follow federal vessel limits and seasons in Atlantic state waters, removing this outdated rule language would reduce confusion. • Technical updates are made and outdated references to federal rules are corrected. • The minimum size limit rule language for gag and black grouper is streamlined and the gag grouper import size limit is clarified.