9708456, 68B-34.002 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 9708456

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Marine Fisheries

Chapter:

BONEFISH

Overview

RULE:

68B-34.002	Definitions
68B-34.003	Size Limits
68B-34.004	Harvest of Bonefish Prohibited; Restrictions on Possession of Bonefish
68B-34.005	Seasons

PURPOSE:

The purpose of these rule amendments is to make bonefish a catch-and release-only fishery and allow temporary possession of bonefish for photographs, measuring, and weighing. The rule amendments would also create a tournament exemption permit that would allow bonefish to be temporarily possessed and transported to a weigh station for tournament purposes.
The effect of these rule amendments would be to provide additional protection for bonefish by prohibiting harvest of bonefish, while still allowing temporary possession of bonefish for record purposes and for tournament weigh-in purposes.

SUMMARY:

Rule 68B-34.002, F.A.C. (Definitions) would be amended to include definitions for organized tournament, person, and target. The definition of harvest would be modified to remove an allowance for temporary possession of a fish for measuring to determine compliance with size limits. Definitions of land and total length would be removed. Rule 68B-34.003, F.A.C. (Bonefish Size Limit; Bag and Possession Limits; Exception, Gear Restriction) would be renamed Bonefish Gear Restriction; Harvest Prohibited and would be modified to eliminate the size, harvest, and possession limits for bonefish and the requirement for bonefish to be landed in whole condition. This section would also be amended to clarify that bonefish may only be targeted with hook and line gear. Rule 68B-34.004, F.A.C. (Temporary Possession of Bonefish) would be created to establish a temporary possession limit of one bonefish per person at any one time. Bonefish would be required to be immediately released free, alive, and unharmed, but could be photographed, measured, and weighed at the site of capture prior to release. Rule 68B-34.005, F.A.C. (Bonefish Tournaments, Exemptions) would create a tournament exemption permit that may be issued to the director of an organized catch-and-release tournament in which bonefish are temporarily possessed and transported to a certified scale for a tournament. This section would outline permit conditions, application criteria, and reporting requirements. An application form for the tournament exemption permit would also be created.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.

LAW:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

3/4/2011 Vol. 37/09

COMMENTS:

From 3/4/2011 To 3/25/2011 (21 Days)
The public comment period for this notice has already expired.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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