FWC approves changes on trap, shrimp fisheries and more
At its September meeting near Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved several changes to trap fisheries rules and shrimp fishery management, plus more.
FWC’s changes to recreational and commercial trap fisheries rules are part of a long-term project to evaluate and improve the management of Florida’s saltwater trap fisheries. They include:
– Creating mandatory, no-cost annual recreational blue crab and stone crab trap registrations for trap fishers age 16 and older, and requiring FWC-designated trap identification numbers to be placed on recreational traps (trap registration and marking requirements for recreational stone crab effective Oct. 1, 2019, and similar blue crab requirements effective Jan. 1, 2020).
– Requiring commercial stone crab fishers to maintain an active saltwater products license, restricted species endorsement, and stone crab endorsement to retain their stone crab trap allotment (effective July 1).
– Starting the commercial spiny lobster trap soak period each year on the Saturday following the recreational mini-season (effective Nov. 1).
– Increasing the time allowed for commercial lobster fishers to remove spiny lobster traps from the water after the season ends from five days to 10 days (effective Nov. 1).
Staff will work with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Fisheries to implement changes to the spiny lobster trap soak period and trap removal period in federal waters beginning with the 2019-2020 season.
SHRIMP FISHERY MANAGEMENT
FWC approved changes to commercial shrimp fishery management that will eliminate barriers to participation in the expanding live seafood market.
The changes are part of a long-term project to evaluate and improve the management of Florida’s shrimp fisheries.
The approved changes include:
– Clarifying that icing requirements for shrimp do not apply to food shrimp kept alive prior to sale.
– Establishing live-well requirements for vessels and vehicles transporting live food shrimp.
– Florida’s shrimp fishery is one of the oldest and most valuable commercial fisheries in the state.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH IN GULF
FWC also approved a federal consistency measure closing recreational gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters that started on Sept. 28.
The closure is in response to harvest projections indicating that the 2018 federal recreational quota for gray triggerfish has been reached.
The closure will remain in effect through Dec. 31. The fishery will reopen on March 1, following the annual January to February recreational harvest closure.
The closure is intended to help ensure the species is sustainably harvested.
Learn more about the federal closure at Fisheries.NOAA.gov.