Fund | Dollars | Positions | |
---|---|---|---|
PROGRAM: MARINE FISHERIES | |||
MARINE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT |
36,120,696
|
34.00 |
|
TOTAL |
36,120,696 |
34.00 |
Red snapper. Florida was delegated authority to set the private recreational red snapper seasons in both state and adjacent federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 2020. For 2023, Florida will have the longest season since the commission began managing the season in state and federal waters at 70-days and will include a summer and fall season. Florida is managing Gulf recreational red snapper harvest for the long-term, including data collection and quota monitoring. This season does not apply to commercial fishermen or for-hire/charter vessels with a valid federal Gulf of Mexico Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish.
Goliath Grouper Harvest. The first limited-entry recreational harvest opportunity for goliath grouper occurred in 2023. Up to 200 participants were awarded a harvest permit and tag through a random-draw lottery. Harvesters were required to collect and submit biological information from the goliath they harvested. This was the first opportunity to harvest goliath grouper in Florida since 1990.
Inshore Fisheries Regional Management. The commission has implemented a new management approach for redfish (red drum) that uses six management metrics in nine regions. This approach incorporates a holistic review of ecological and human factors, which allows the commission to better respond to issues on a local scale. Regional regulations are based upon review of these new metrics. The commission is currently considering a similar management approach for snook.
Descending Devices and Venting Tools. Increasing the survival of released reef fish is a top priority management issue in both the Gulf and South Atlantic. As reef fish are reeled up from depth, they can suffer pressure-related injuries known as barotrauma. These injuries include the stomach protruding out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly, distended intestines, and inability to swim down independently. If not treated correctly, barotrauma can be lethal to reef fish.
To help improve released reef fish survival, the commission approved new regulations in April 2023 requiring the possession of a descending device that is rigged and ready for use on board a vessel when harvesting or attempting to harvest, including catch-and-release, of reef fish in state waters. The rule also requires the use of a descending device or venting tool if a fish is exhibiting signs of barotrauma prior to release.
Other Reports
2022 Florida Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Websites of Interest
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Inspector General
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Research Institute
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Research Publications
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Strategic Plan
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Performance Information
Jessica McCawley, Director, Marine Fisheries Management, 850-487-0554, email: jessica.mccawley@myfwc.com
Website