Fla. Admin. Code R. 68B-31.0063

Current through Reg. 50, No. 217; November 5, 2024

Section 68B-31.0063 - Southwest Region: Allowable Gear and Harvest Methods; Prohibited Gear; Seasonal and Spatial Trawling Restrictions

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

(1) Recreational Harvesters. A recreational harvester may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Southwest Region by or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in subsection 68B-31.006(1), F.A.C.

(2) Live Bait Shrimp Producers. A live bait shrimp producer may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Southwest Region by or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(b), F.A.C.

(3) Food Shrimp Producers. Within the nearshore and inshore Florida Waters of the Southwest Region, a food shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp only by or with the following gear:

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

(b) Otter trawls meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c) 4., F.A.C., within specified waters of the Southwest Region, as follows:

1. In all inside waters of the Southwest Region, except as provided in subparagraph 2. for Tampa Bay, a food shrimp producer may use:

a. No more than one otter trawl.

b. No more than one try net meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c) 5., F.A.C.

2. In all waters of Tampa Bay, a food shrimp producer may use:

a. No more than two unconnected otter trawls.

b. 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 sub- subparagraph 2.a.

3. In waters of the Southwest Region within three nautical miles seaward of the coastline, a food shrimp producer may use:

a. No more than two unconnected otter trawls.

b. 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 sub-subparagraph 3.a.

(4) Mesh size requirements.

(a) In the inside waters of the Southwest 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.

(b) In any trawl with a rigid TED, the section of netting surrounding the TED may not have a mesh size smaller than 5/8 inch bar measurement and may not be more than 50 meshes in total length.

(5) Seasonal and Spatial Trawling Restrictions.

(a) Beginning October 1 and continuing through May 31 of the following year, a food shrimp producer may not use any trawl within the following described area of Florida Waters off the southwest coast of Florida:

Beginning at Point H in the Boca Grande ship channel; thence easterly to the northernmost extent of Cayo Costa; thence following the coastline southwesterly, southerly and easterly along the shorelines of and along the COLREGS Demarcation Lines across the passes between Cayo Costa, North Captiva Island, Captiva Island, Sanibel Island, Estero Island, Lovers Key, Big Hickory Island, Little Hickory Island, and Wiggins Island to 26°16.00'N, 81°49.57'W (Point AA); 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, Point H. Points Z, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and AA are expressed as follows by latitude and longitude:

Point	North Latitude	West Longitude
H	26°41.78'	82°17.91'
AA	26°16.00'	81°49.57'
Z	26°16.00'	81°58.50'
A	26°17.23'	81°55.55'
B	26°22.31'	81°59.00'
C	26°20.25'	82°04.39'
D	26°22.00'	82°10.79'
E	26°26.05'	82°15.55'
F	26°34.40'	82°18.90'
G	26°38.28'	82°16.92'

(b) Beginning October 1 and continuing through May 31 of the following year, a person may not use any trawl within Florida Waters of the Gulf of Mexico east of the line established in paragraph 68B-31.0062(4)(a), F.A.C.

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-31.0063

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 173, September 4, 2024 effective 9/19/2024.