68B-38.002. Southwest Florida Seasonal Shrimp Closures

(1) From October 1 of each year and continuing through May 31 of the following year, no person shall operate any trawl, except a trawl used for live bait shrimp production pursuant to Rule 68B-31.008, F.A.C., within the following described area of state waters off the southwest coast of Florida:

Beginning with Bell Buoy No. 8 (Point H) in the Boca Grande ship channel; thence easterly to the northernmost extent of the Colregs Demarcation Line at the northern end of Cayo Costa; thence following the Colregs Demarcation Line southerly and easterly along the shorelines of and across the passes between Cayo Costa, North Captiva Island, Captiva Island, Sanibel Island, Estero Island, the unnamed island southwest of Black Island, Big Hickory Island, Little Hickory Island, and Wiggins Island to the point south of Wiggins Pass where the Colregs Demarcation Line meets 26°16.0' North Latitude; thence due west to Point Z, and following a continuous line from Point Z through points A, B, C, D, E, F and G; thence northwesterly to the point of beginning at Bell Buoy No. 8 (Point H). Points Z, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are expressed as follows by latitude and longitude:

NorthWest

PointLatitudeLongitude

Z26°16.00'81°58.50'

A26°17.23' 81°55.55'

B26°22.31' 81°59.00'

C26°20.25' 82°04.39'

D26°22.00' 82°10.79'

E26°26.05' 82°15.55'

F26°34.40' 82°18.90'

G26°38.28' 82°16.92'

 

(2) The areas described in subsections (1) and (3) are depicted on the following map:

SEE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE FOR “MAP”

(3) Beginning October 1 each year and continuing through May 31 of the following year, no person shall operate any trawl within state waters of the Gulf of Mexico east of a line drawn between the following described points:

 

PointNorth LatitudeWest Longitude

Z26°16.0'81°58.5'

Y26°00.0'82°04.0'

X25°09.0'81°47.6'

W24°54.5'81°50.5'

V24°49.3'81°46.4'

U is the point where the line beginning at Point W extended through Point V intersects U.S. Highway 1 just east of Boca Chica Key.

(4) “Trawl” means a net in the form of an elongated bag with the mouth kept open by various means and fished by being towed or dragged on the bottom.

Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 10-1-89, Amended 2-24-98, 11-16-98, 6-1-99, Formerly 46-38.002, Amended 3-1-05.