The purpose of these rule amendments is three-fold. The amendment to rule 68B-55.01 modifies the definition of derelict trap to account for the fact that blue crab traps are now required to be marked with Commission-supplied trap tags. The amendments to Rules 68B-55.002 and 68B-55.004, F.A.C., exempt federal, state, or local government employees from acquiring authorization from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to retrieve trap debris and traps that are located within areas where trapping is prohibited all year-round. The effect of these rule amendments will expedite the removal of these traps and reduce their impact to the environment. Rule 68B-55.005, F.A.C., is a new rule that will allow possession of a blue crab, stone crab, or lobster trap by someone other than its owner in the aftermath of a major storm for the purpose of returning it to its owner. The effect will be to aid fishers in recovering their traps in the aftermath of a major storm and allow them to resume normal fishing operations. This will also reduce damage to the environment and the unintended mortality to marine life caused by lost traps.