The
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering a
proposed fishery-management pilot program that would allow the FWC to
manage all recreational red snapper harvest caught in Gulf state and
federal waters off Florida in 2018 and 2019.
The
pilot program, also
known as an Exempted Fishing Permit, is pending
approval by NOAA Fisheries.
It
would set the harvest season for recreational anglers fishing from
private vessels in state and federal waters of the Gulf, and would
also include for-hire operations that do not have a federal reef fish
permit and are limited to targeting reef fish in Gulf state waters
only.
This
Exempted Fishing Permit would not apply to commercial fishermen or
for-hire operations with a valid federal reef fish permit.
The
FWC last week discussed a potential 24-day season in Gulf state and
federal waters as a jumping off point for a 2018 season proposal
though the season length could change.
This
Exempted Fishing Permit opportunity and 2018 recreational season
dates should be finalized sometime in April.
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