04-18-2009, 11:10 AM
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved a rule that will establish administrative penalties for violations of provisions of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program. This program was developed by the FWC to manage the use of traps in Florida's commercial blue crab fishery.
These administrative penalties are authorized by Florida statute (Section 379.366, F.S.) and will apply to violations such as untagged traps, trap molestation, illegal barter of tags and trap theft.
The new rule standardizes penalty assessments by creating a tiered system that allows the penalties to be assessed relative to the severity of the violation and the number of previous violations up to the maximum amount allowed by statute. This rule is consistent with existing administrative penalty rules for the stone crab and spiny lobster fisheries.
More information regarding the new rule is available online at MyFWC.com/docs/CommissionMeetings/2009/2009_Apr_10A_FinalRule_68B-45-008_NPR.pdf.
This rule takes effect on July 1.
Media Contact
Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554
These administrative penalties are authorized by Florida statute (Section 379.366, F.S.) and will apply to violations such as untagged traps, trap molestation, illegal barter of tags and trap theft.
The new rule standardizes penalty assessments by creating a tiered system that allows the penalties to be assessed relative to the severity of the violation and the number of previous violations up to the maximum amount allowed by statute. This rule is consistent with existing administrative penalty rules for the stone crab and spiny lobster fisheries.
More information regarding the new rule is available online at MyFWC.com/docs/CommissionMeetings/2009/2009_Apr_10A_FinalRule_68B-45-008_NPR.pdf.
This rule takes effect on July 1.
Media Contact
Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554