Florida stone crab rules to extend into federal waters

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed draft rules that would extend its state management regulations for stone crab into federal waters off Florida. 

Currently, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has a federal fishery management plan in place for stone crabs but it recently voted to recommend the repeal of the plan because the stone crab fishery is centered in Florida and the state already plays a leading role in stone crab stock assessments and management.
The proposed FWC rules would also eliminate a federal form that is now required for stone crab fishermen.
NOAA Fisheries Service intends to repeal the federal stone crab fishery management plan before this fall’s opening of stone crab season on October the 15.
The FWC will hold a final public hearing on the proposed stone crab rules in June and would apply the rules immediately upon repeal of the federal stone crab fishery management plan.


http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments