68B-39.005: Commercial Harvest, Statewide Regulations
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to rescind the July 1 through January 31 weekend closure on commercial harvest of striped mullet. The effect of this rule will be to provide additional opportunity for the commercial harvest of striped or black mullet, Mugil cephalus. The opening of the weekends for commercial harvest will allow for an increase in commercial landings while maintaining a healthy striped mullet population.
SUMMARY: Rule 68B-39.005, F.A.C., is amended to remove the weekend closure on the commercial harvest of striped mullet from July 1 each year through January 31 of the following year.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the regular meeting of the Commission, June 11-12, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: International Game Fish Association, Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida 33004
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: The ADA Coordinator, at (850)488-6411. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mark Robson, Director, Division of Marine Fisheries Management, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Suite 201, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, (850)488-9542
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
68B-39.005 Commercial Harvest, Statewide Regulations.
(1) through (2) No change.
(3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, no person shall harvest, possess while in or on the waters of the state, or land in any one day striped or silver mullet in quantities greater than the bag limit specified in Rule 68B-39.004, F.A.C., on any weekend during the period beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on January 31 of the following year.
(b) No person shall purchase, sell, or exchange, or offer to purchase, sell, or exchange any striped or silver mullet harvested on any weekend during the period beginning on July 1 of each year and ending on January 31 of the following year.
(c) A person who has lawfully harvested striped or silver mullet for commercial purposes prior to the beginning of a weekend may possess, aboard a vessel, mullet in quantities greater than the bag limit after the weekend begins, if the vessel is tied up to the docking facilities of a licensed wholesale saltwater products dealer, the vessel was docked at the facility prior to the beginning of the weekend, and the person is in the process of landing the striped or silver mullet at the dealer’s facility.
(d) No person shall harvest or possess silver mullet in or on waters of the east region in quantities greater than the bag limit specified in Rule 68B-39.004, F.A.C. during the period beginning February 1 and continuing through the last day of February each year. During this period, no person shall purchase, sell, or exchange, or offer to purchase, sell, or exchange any silver mullet harvested from waters of the east region.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 10-19-89, Amended 10-1-90, 9-1-91, 11-16-93, 3-3-97, 11-16-98, Formerly 46-39.005, Amended 7-1-03,__________.