Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
Each person harvesting or attempting to harvest shrimp in the
Big Bend Region shall comply with the requirements specified in this
rule.
(1) Recreational Harvesters.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) for a
portion of the Big Bend Region, a recreational harvester may not harvest or
attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Big Bend Region by
or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in subsection
68B-31.006(1),
F.A.C.
(b) Within the area
described in subsection
68B-31.008(3),
F.A.C., for a portion of the Big Bend Region, a recreational harvester may
harvest shrimp only by or with the following gear:
1. Landing or dip net with an opening no
larger than 96 inches around the perimeter.
2. Cast net with a stretched length (the
distance from the horn at the center of the net, with the net gathered and
pulled taut, to the lead line) no greater than 14 feet.
(2) Live Bait Shrimp Producers.
Except as provided in subparagraph (4)(a)2. for a portion of Taylor County, a
live bait shrimp producer may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or
from Florida Waters of the Big Bend 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. A
food shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from
Florida Waters of the Big Bend Region only by or with the use of the following
gear:
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b),
a food shrimp producer may use no more than four unconnected roller frame
trawls meeting the specifications of subsection
68B-31.006(2)(c)
3., F.A.C.
(b) In the nearshore and
inshore Florida Waters of the Big Bend Region, a food shrimp producer may use
no more than two unconnected roller frame trawls meeting the specifications of
subsection 68B-31.006(2)(c)
3., F.A.C.
(c) In all waters of the
Big Bend Region, a food shrimp producer may not use any trawl that has a mesh
size less than 3/4 inch bar measurement in the body of the net and less than
5/8 inch bar measurement in the cod end.
(4) Seasonal and Spatial Trawling
Restrictions.
(a) Except as provided in
subparagraph 2., a person may not use any trawl within the following described
area off Taylor County:
1. Beginning at a
point on the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico north of Steinhatchee River Light
47 (29°40.267'N, 83°23.320'W); thence south to Steinhatchee River Light
47 (29°40.234'N, 83°23.320'W); thence westerly along the line of
navigational buoys marking the north side of said channel to Steinhatchee River
Light 1 marking the outer extent of said channel (29°39.388'N,
83°27.377'W); thence westerly to a point located at 29°40.045'N,
83°35.218'W; thence northwesterly to a point located at 29°53.253'N,
83°53.01'W; thence north-northwesterly to Gamble Point near the mouth of
the Aucilla River (30°04.643'N, 83°59.373'W); thence southeasterly
along the shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico to the point of
beginning.
2. A live bait shrimp
producer may use a trawl or trawls within the area described in subparagraph 1.
if each of the following conditions is met:
a.
The live bait shrimp producer is harvesting live bait shrimp using no more than
two roller frame trawls.
b. Neither
the upper or lower horizontal beam on a roller frame trawl may be greater than
15 feet in length.
(b) Citrus-Hernando Shrimping and Trapping
Closed Areas and Seasons - Food shrimp producers and live bait shrimp producers
are subject to the seasonal and spatial trawling restrictions established in
Rule 68B-38.001, F.A.C.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law
Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla.
Const.
