Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-24.007 - Other Prohibitions

(1) The harvest or possession of eggbearing spiny lobster, or any other species of lobster belonging to the families Palinuridae (spiny or furry lobsters) or Scyllaridae (slipper lobsters) is prohibited. Eggbearing spiny lobster, or any other species of lobster in the families listed in this subsection, found in traps shall be immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed. The practice of stripping or otherwise molesting eggbearing spiny lobster, or any other species of lobster in the families listed in this subsection, in order to remove the eggs is prohibited and the possession of spiny lobster or spiny lobster tails from which eggs, swimmerettes, or pleopods have been removed or stripped is prohibited.

(2) Spiny lobster traps may be worked during daylight hours only, and the pulling of traps from 1 hour after official sunset until 1 hour before official sunrise is prohibited.

(3) No spiny lobster traps shall be set, placed, or caused to be set or placed at, on, or below the waters of the state within 100 feet of the intracoastal waterway or within 100 feet of any bridge or sea wall.

(4) No person shall harvest spiny lobster by diving at night (from 1 hour after official sunset until 1 hour before official sunrise) in excess of the bag limit prescribed in rule 68B-24.004, F.A.C.

(5) A bully net and any underwater breathing apparatus, as defined in rule 68B-4.002, F.A.C., may not be simultaneously possessed on Florida Waters aboard a vessel used in the harvest of spiny lobster for commercial purposes or aboard a vessel transporting spiny lobster for commercial purposes while on Florida Waters. For the purposes of this subsection, a snorkel shall not be considered an underwater breathing apparatus.

(6) The directed harvest of spiny lobster by the use of any net or trawl, other than a landing or dip net, bully net with a diameter no larger than 3 feet, or hoop net with a diameter no larger than 10 feet, is prohibited. Spiny lobster harvested by the use of any net or trawl as an incidental bycatch of other target species lawfully harvested shall not be deemed to be unlawfully harvested in violation of this subsection if the combined whole weight of all spiny lobster so harvested does not exceed 5% of the total whole weight of all species lawfully in possession of the harvester at any time. For purposes of this subsection, the term "net or trawl" shall not include any hand-held net.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-24.007

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.

New 7-2-87, Amended 7-2-90, 10-4-95, Formerly 46-24.007, Amended 7-1-08, Amended by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 060, March 28, 2017 effective 5/1/2017.

New 7-2-87, Amended 7-2-90, 10-4-95, Formerly 46-24.007, Amended 7-1-08, 5-1-17.