68B-21.002. Definitions

As used in Chapter 68B-21, F.A.C.:

(1) “Big Bend Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico lying east of 84°20.800ꞌ West Longitude in Franklin County and north of a line running due east and due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28°09.350’N, 82°48.398’W), all waters of Pinellas County north of 28°09.350’ North Latitude, all waters of Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla counties, and including all waters of Ochlockonee Bay and the Ochlockonee River, all waters of the Withlacoochee River, and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries

(2) “Charlotte Harbor Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Sarasota Bay Region and north of a line extending due west from a point located at 26°15.227’N, 81°49.412’W in Collier County, all waters of Collier County north of 26°15.227’ North Latitude, all waters of Manatee and Sarasota counties east and south of the Sarasota Bay Region, all waters of Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, and Polk counties, including all waters and tributaries of the Caloosahatchee, Myakka, and Peace rivers, excluding all waters of Lake Okeechobee.

(3) “Indian River Lagoon Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of a line extending due east from a point located at 29°01.755’N, 80°54.160’W in Volusia County and north of the Martin-Palm Beach county line, all waters of Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties, all inside waters of Volusia County south of Lytle Avenue/South Causeway (State Road A1A), all waters of Volusia County south of State Road 44 and east of I-95, including all waters of the Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee, and Lake Okeechobee, excluding all waters of the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries and all waters of the St. Johns River and its tributaries.

(4) “Northeast Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Florida-Georgia border and north of the North Indian River Lagoon Region, all waters of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, and St. Johns counties, all waters of Volusia County north and west of the Indian River Lagoon Region, including all waters of the St. Johns River and its tributaries, excluding all waters of the Withlacoochee River, Kissimmee River, Cypress Lake, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Kissimmee.

(5) “Panhandle Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying east of the Florida-Alabama border and west of the western boundary of the Big Bend Region, all waters of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington counties, excluding all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Ochlockonee Bay.

(6) “Sarasota Bay Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Tampa Bay Region and north of 27°04.727’ North Latitude (approximately 0.4 miles north of the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier in Sarasota County), all waters of Manatee County south of State Road 64 and west of 82°22.500’ West Longitude, and all waters of Sarasota County west of 82°22.500’ West Longitude and north of 27°04.727’ North Latitude, including all waters of Palma Sola Bay, Phillippi Creek, Cow Pen Slough Canal, and Curry Creek, excluding all waters and tributaries of the Braden and Manatee rivers.

(7) “Snook” means a fish of the genus Centropomus, or any part thereof.

(8) “Southeast Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Martin-Palm Beach county line and north of the Miami-Dade/Monroe county line, all waters of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, including all waters of the Loxahatchee River and its tributaries, Hillsboro Canal, Miami Canal, North New River Canal, and West Palm Beach Canal, excluding all waters of Lake Okeechobee and all waters of Everglades National Park.

(9) “Southwest Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Charlotte Harbor Region and all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of the Southeast Region, all waters of Collier County south of 26°15.227’ North Latitude, all waters of Monroe County, and all waters of Everglades National Park.

(10) “Tampa Bay Region” means all Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters lying south of a line extending due east and due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County (28°09.350’N, 82°48.398’W) and north of a line extending due west from a point located at 27°29.823’N, 82°42.659’W (the western terminus of State Road 64 in Manatee County), all waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, and all waters of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, including all waters and tributaries of the Alafia, Braden, Manatee, and Hillsborough rivers, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay and all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 7-23-85, Formerly 46-21.002, Amended 9-1-13, 1-1-24.