68B-31.0061. Northeast Region: Allowable Gear and Harvest Methods; Prohibited Gear

Each person harvesting or attempting to harvest shrimp in the Northeast Region shall comply with the requirements specified in this rule.

(1) Recreational Harvesters.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) for a portion of Volusia County, a recreational harvester may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Northeast Region by or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in subsection 68B-31.006(1), F.A.C.

(b) A recreational harvester may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from the inside waters of Volusia County from a vessel under power.

(2) Live Bait Shrimp Producers.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a live bait shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from the Northeast Region only by or with the use of the following gear:

1. No more than two roller frame trawls meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(b)1., F.A.C.

2. An otter trawl meeting the following specifications:

a. The opening or entrance to the trawl net shall be formed and limited by attachment of the net mesh to line of not less than 1/8 inch diameter. Such line shall be securely attached so as to form a continuous perimeter around the leading edge of the net.

b. Attachment of the net mesh to such line shall be made at intervals of not more than 12 inches along the entire length of the line.

c. The perimeter so formed shall not exceed 60 feet, measured from point to point along the line forming the leading edge of the net.

d. No webbing, mesh, panels, or similar devices shall be used in conjunction with the trawl net in any manner so as to precede or enlarge the opening or entrance to the net, or have the effect of diverting saltwater products into the opening or entrance to the net.

e. No such trawl shall be larger in mesh area than specified by paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(a), F.A.C.

f. The trawl must meet the mesh size requirements established in subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(b)2., F.A.C.

(b) In or on the nearshore and inshore Florida Waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler counties, a live bait shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp only by or with the use of one trawl meeting the following specifications:

1. The opening or entrance to the trawl net shall be formed and limited by attachment of the net mesh to line of not less than 1/8 inch diameter. Such line shall be securely attached so as to form a continuous perimeter around the leading edge of the net.

2. Attachment of the net mesh to such line shall be made at intervals of not more than 12 inches along the entire length of the line.

3. The perimeter so formed shall not exceed 60 feet, measured from point to point along the line forming the leading edge of the net.

4. No webbing, mesh, panels, or similar devices shall be used in conjunction with the trawl net in any manner so as to precede or enlarge the opening or entrance to the net, or have the effect of diverting saltwater products into the opening or entrance to the net.

5. No such trawl shall be larger in mesh area than specified by paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(a), F.A.C.

6. The trawl must meet the mesh size requirements established in subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(b)2., F.A.C.

7. A person may not use any otter trawl, or possess any otter trawl that is rigged for fishing aboard any vessel, in or on the nearshore and inshore Florida Waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler counties, if such otter trawl does not have a bycatch reduction device (BRD) meeting the requirements of subsection 68B-31.006(4), F.A.C., installed therein.

(c) In or on all inside waters of Volusia County –

1. A live bait shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from the inside waters of Volusia County only by or with the use of the following gear:

a. Wing nets, each with a perimeter no greater than 26 feet. Each wing net shall be no larger in mesh area than specified by paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(a), F.A.C.

b. Landing or dip nets.

c. Push nets.

d. Cast nets.

2. Beginning on March 1 and continuing through June 30 of each year, a live bait shrimp producer may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from the inside waters of Volusia County with wing nets.

3. A live bait shrimp producer may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from the inside waters of Volusia County from a vessel under power.

(d) All commercial trawling in the St. Johns River proper shall be restricted to the area north of the Acosta Bridge (State Road 13) in Jacksonville and at least 100 yards from the nearest shoreline.

(e) Within all inland waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler counties, a live bait shrimp producer may only use a trawl during daylight hours.

(3) Food Shrimp Producers.

(a) In the nearshore and inshore Florida Waters of the Northeast Region, a food shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp only by or with the use of the following gear:

1. No more than two unconnected roller frame trawls meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)3., F.A.C.

2. No more than two unconnected otter trawls, each meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)4., F.A.C.

3. No more than one try net meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)5., F.A.C . Such try net shall be considered one of the two unconnected otter trawls allowed for food shrimp production pursuant to subparagraph 2.

4. All commercial trawling in the St. Johns River proper shall be restricted to the area north of the Acosta Bridge (State Road 13) in Jacksonville and at least 100 yards from the nearest shoreline.

(b) Within all inland waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler counties, a food shrimp producer may only use a trawl during daylight hours.

(c) Mesh size requirements.

1. In the inside waters of the Northeast Region, a food shrimp producer may not use any trawl that has a mesh size less than 7/8 inch bar measurement in the body of the net and less than 3/4 inch bar measurement in the cod end.

2. In any trawl with a rigid TED, the section of netting surrounding the TED may not have a mesh size smaller than 1/2 inch bar measurement and may not be more than 50 meshes in total length.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 9-19-24.