FWC approves changes to triggerfish rules

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved two changes to how gray triggerfish are managed in Gulf of Mexico state waters in an effort to help rebuild the overfished species.

The changes will make state regulations consistent with pending federal regulations and will include implementing a June 1^st through July 31st closed recreational season and a two-fish daily recreational bag limit.

Federal fishery managers also approved changes to the commercial harvest of Gulf gray triggerfish which include a 12-fish trip limit and a June 1-through-July 31 commercial harvest closure.

The FWC requires fishers harvesting gray triggerfish commercially in Gulf state waters to have a federal reef fish permit.

One condition of the federal reef fish permit is that harvesters must follow federal reef fish rules, even when they are fishing in state waters.

This means that when the new federal commercial trip limit and closed season take effect sometime in April or May, harvesters in state waters must abide by these rules.

More than 60 percent of gray triggerfish caught in the Gulf of Mexico come from state and federal waters off Florida, which makes the state’s management of the species vitally important to the success of the federal rebuilding plan.

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