FWC Proposes Allowing Commercial Mullet Harvest on Weekends
FWC Also Proposes Stone Crab and Lobster Rule Amendments

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a draft rule on Thursday that would allow commercial fishers to harvest striped or black mullet on weekends. A final public hearing on this rule proposal will take place during the June 11-12 FWC meeting in Dania Beach.

The commercial harvest of mullet has been prohibited on weekends during certain months of the year since 1989 to help protect mullet when they spawn. A recent FWC stock assessment indicates mullet populations are now healthy enough statewide to sustain commercial mullet harvesting on weekends.

Stone Crab Rule Amendments

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed two changes to its stone crab management rules during a public meeting inTallahassee on Thursday. A final public hearing on these rule proposals will take place during the June 11-12 FWC meeting in Dania Beach.

The Stone Crab Advisory Board was created by an FWC rule in 2003 to advise the Commission about the operation of the stone crab trap limitation program and any problems in the fishery. The FWC is proposing to continue the board until July 1, 2011, to give it time to resolve on-going issues in the fishery, including how to reduce the excessive number of trap certificates in the commercial stone crab fishery and remove and dispose of derelict stone crab traps.

The FWC is also proposing to allow the use of 16-gauge, or thinner, staples to secure stone crab trap tie-down lids or the panel on wire stone crab traps. This is consistent with current rules for blue crab traps.

Lobster Rule Amendments

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) amended its lobster management rules during a public meeting in Tallahassee on Thursday. These rules take effect on July 1.

The amended rules extend the current moratorium on reducing the number of traps in the lobster fishery until July 1, 2009. This will give the FWC time to work with stakeholders to find ways to limit the number of traps used to harvest lobsters in Florida.

The rules also allow the display of two spiny lobster endorsement numbers from one vessel so that two commercial lobster license holders can fish from the same vessel. This will help new lobster license holders who don’t own a vessel yet to work their lobster traps.

In addition, the rules prohibit the harvest and possession of egg-bearing lobsters of any species, which will help ensure the health of all lobster populations in Florida.

No other changes to lobster regulations will be made for the 2008-2009 harvest season. The regular commercial and recreational lobster harvest season will reopen on Aug. 6 as usual, and the special two-day sport season for recreational lobster harvesters this year will take place on July 30 and 31.