Purpose


The purpose of this rule amendment is to repeal two Special Acts of Local Application for Collier County. The first act (Chapter 27473) prohibits the use of artificial light while spearing or gigging fish in state waters off Collier county, while the second (Chapter 30665) prohibits harvesting any fish from waters off Collier County using a spear, gig, or other spearing device. In February, the FWC received a letter from the Collier County Board of Commissioners requesting that FWC repeal these two Special Acts of Local Application, stating that the rules are antiquated and not in the public’s best interest. The effect of this rule amendment will be to allow spearing (spearfishing, gigging, and bowfishing) and allow the use of lights when gigging and spearfishing in the state waters off Collier County. As a result of this rule amendment, all statewide regulations regarding spearing will apply in Collier County. This rule amendment will also remove regulatory impediments for divers interested in using spears to remove non-native, invasive lionfish from the waters off Collier County.