68B-31.002. Definitions

As used in Chapter 68B-31, F.A.C.:

(1) “Approved turtle excluder device” or “TED” means any device meeting the requirements established by NOAA Fisheries pursuant to 50 C.F.R. §223.207, as of May 1, 2024.

(2) “Bar measurement” means the mesh size of a net as measured by the distance from the center of a knot to the center of an adjacent knot.

(3) “Big Bend Region” means all Florida Waters of Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties, and all Florida Waters of Wakulla County east of the following described line:

Beginning at the St. Marks Lighthouse (30°04.429'N, 84°10.779'W), proceed southerly on a straight line to St. Marks River Lighted Buoy 1 (30°01.516'N, 84°10.580'W); thence, southerly in a straight line to a point on the Florida Waters boundary located at 29°51.963'N, 84°10.330'W.

(4) “Body,” as it relates to a part of a shrimp trawl, means the forward, larger portion of a trawl from the leading edge of the net to the cod end.

(5) “Brine box” means a container holding water that has a higher salinity than the the surrounding seawater.

(6) “Cod end,” also known as the “tail” or “bag” of a shrimp trawl, means the terminal cylinder of heavy webbing in which the catch is concentrated as the trawl is fished and which is closed at its rearmost extent by means of purse line or draw string.

(7) “Daylight hours” means the period beginning 1/2 hour before official sunrise and continuing through 1/2 hour after official sunset, each day.

(8) “Food shrimp producer” means a person harvesting shrimp for commercial purposes who is not a live bait shrimp producer, or is harvesting shrimp with a gear authorized for food shrimp producers for a specific region in Rules 68B-31.0061 through 68B-31.0065, F.A.C.

(9) “Frame net” means a net in the form of an elongated bag kept open by a rigid frame that is buoyed by floats and is not fished or dragged along the bottom.

(10) “Inland waters” means all creeks, rivers, bayous, bays, inlets, and canals.

(11) “Live bait shrimp producer” means any person harvesting shrimp for the purpose of delivering and selling that shrimp alive for use as bait.

(12) “Northeast Region” means all Florida Waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties, including all of the St. Johns River.

(13) “Northwest Region” means all Florida Waters of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties, and all Florida Waters of Wakulla County west of the Big Bend Region.

(14) “Perimeter” means the opening or entrance to a shrimp net or trawl. The perimeter so formed is measured as a continuous line from point to point along the line or frame forming the leading edge of the net.

(15) “Push net” means a mesh net or bag attached to the outer edges of a triangular or rectangular rigid frame with a handle attached.

(16) “Recreational harvester” means a person who is engaging in an activity regulated by Chapter 68B-31, F.A.C., who is not a live bait shrimp producer or a food shrimp producer.

(17) “Rigged for fishing” means the trawl is in the water, or is shackled, tied, or otherwise connected to a sled, door, board, or other device that spreads the net, or is connected to a tow rope, cable, pole, or extension, either on board or attached in any manner to the vessel.

(18) “Roller frame trawl” means a trawl with all of the following features:

(a) A rectangular rigid frame to keep the mouth open while being towed.

(b) The lower horizontal beam of the frame has rollers to allow the trawl to roll over the bottom and any obstructions while being towed.

(c) The trawl opening is shielded by a grid of vertical bars.

(d) The trawl is towed by attaching a line or towing cable to a tongue located above or at the center of the upper horizontal beam of the frame.

(e) The trawl has no doors attached to keep the mouth of the trawl open.

(19) “Shrimp” means any decapod crustacean of the species Penaeus aztecus (brown shrimp), Penaeus brasiliensis (pinkspotted shrimp), Penaeus duorarum (pink shrimp), Penaeus setiferus (white shrimp), Rimapenaeus constrictus (roughneck shrimp), Rimapenaeus similis (roughback shrimp), and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (seabob).

(20) “Skimmer trawl” means a trawl with the following features:

(a) A rigid “L”-shaped or triangular metal frame that is deployed amidship from either side of the harvesting vessel.

(b) The inboard portion of the frame is attached to the vessel, while the outboard portion runs along the seabed on a skid or “shoe.”

(c) The net mouth or perimeter is hung along the outer edges of the frame and kept open with a bullet weight holding the lower inboard corner of the net mouth on the bottom.

(d) A tickler chain may be attached below the lead line between the shoe and the bullet weight.

(e) The trawl is pushed alongside the harvesting vessel and generally fishes the entire water column.

(21) “Southeast Region” means all Florida Waters of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.

(22) “Southwest Region” means all Florida Waters of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties.

(23) “Tampa Bay” means all waters of Tampa Bay east and north of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (U.S. Highway 19 and Interstate 275).

(24) For purposes of this chapter and Section 379.246, F.S., “Tortugas Shrimp Beds” means all waters within the following geographic boundary:

Begin at a point located at 25°52.904'N, 81°37.933'W (Coon Key Light in Collier County); thence proceed on a straight line to a point which is located at 24°50.700'N, 81°51.300'W; thence proceed on a straight line to a point located at 24°39.996'N, 82°26.650'W (New Grounds Shoals Light); thence proceed on a straight line to a point located at 24°34.727'N, 82°35.445'W (Rebecca Shoal Lighted Buoy 4); thence proceed on a straight line due east to a point located at 24°35.100'N, 82°13.200'W; thence proceed along the Florida Waters boundary to a point located at 24°27.200'N, 81°58.900'W; thence proceed due east to a point located at 24°27.349'N, 81°52.638'W (Sand Key Light); thence proceed northerly to a point located at 24°32.655'N, 81°48.309'W (Whitehead Spit); thence along the south and east meandered shoreline of the Florida Keys and the connecting viaducts between said keys to a point located at 25°01.120'N, 80°30.000'W; thence north until a point on the mainland at 25°12.090'N, 80°30.000'W; thence proceed west and north along the coast of the mainland of Florida until a point located due north of Coon Key Light in Collier County at 25°56.521'N, 81°37.933'W; thence due south to a point located at 25°52.904'N, 81°37.933'W (Coon Key Light), the point of beginning.

(25) “Try net” means a small otter trawl pulled for brief periods to test waters for the presence or size of shrimp or to determine fishing conditions.

(26) “Unconnected” means two trawls not joined or linked together. Except that two trawls, each of which is attached to a sled in lieu of the inner door of each trawl, shall be considered unconnected if a separation of at least 10 feet is maintained at all times during trawling.

(27) “Wing net” means a net in the form of an elongated bag kept open by a rigid frame that is attached to either side of a vessel, and is not towed behind a vessel or dragged along the bottom.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.26 FS. History–New 12-11-86, Amended 1-1-96, Formerly 46-31.002, Amended 9-19-24.