Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68B - Marine Fisheries › Chapter 68B-45 - BLUE CRAB › Section 68B-45.004 - Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2),
				(3), (4), (5) and (6), below, the following types of gear shall be the only
				types of gear allowed for the harvest of blue crab in or from state waters:
(a) Traps meeting the following
				specifications:
1. Traps shall be constructed
				of wire with a minimum mesh size of 1 1/2 inches and have throats or entrances
				located only on a vertical surface. Beginning on January 1, 1995, traps shall
				have a maximum dimension of 24 inches by 24 inches by 24 inches or a volume of
				8 cubic feet and a degradable panel that meets the specifications of subsection
				(7) of this rule.
2. All traps
				shall have a buoy or a time release buoy attached to each trap or at each end
				of a weighted trotline which buoy shall be constructed of styrofoam, cork,
				molded polyvinyl chloride, or molded polystyrene, be of sufficient strength and
				buoyancy to float, and be of such color, hue and brilliancy to be easily
				distinguished, seen, and located. Buoys shall be either spherical in shape with
				a diameter no smaller than 6 inches or some other shape so long as it is no
				shorter than 10 inches in the longest dimension and the width at some point
				exceeds 5 inches. No more than 5 feet of any buoy line attached to a buoy used
				to mark a blue crab trap or attached to a trotline shall float on the surface
				of the water.
3. Each trap used for
				harvesting blue crab for commercial purposes shall have the harvester's blue
				crab endorsement number permanently affixed to it. Each buoy attached to such a
				trap shall have the number permanently affixed to it in legible figures at
				least two inches high. The buoy color and license number shall also be
				permanently and conspicuously displayed on any vessel used for setting the
				traps and buoys, so as to be readily identifiable from the air and water, in
				the following manner:
a. From the Air - The
				buoy design approved by the Commission shall be displayed and be permanently
				affixed to the uppermost structural portion of the vessel and displayed
				horizontally with the painted design up. If the vessel is an open design (such
				as a skiff boat), in lieu of a separate display, one seat shall be painted with
				buoy assigned color with permit numbers, unobstructed and no smaller than 10
				inches in height, painted thereon in contrasting color. Otherwise, the display
				shall exhibit the harvester's approved buoy design, unobstructed, on a circle
				20 inches in diameter, outlined in a contrasting color, together with the
				permit numbers permanently affixed beneath the circle in numerals no smaller
				than 10 inches in height.
b. From
				the Water - The buoy design approved by the Commission shall be displayed and
				be permanently affixed vertically to both the starboard and port sides of the
				vessel near amidship. The display shall exhibit the harvester's approved buoy
				design, unobstructed, on a circle 8 inches in diameter, outlined in a
				contrasting color, together with the permit numbers permanently affixed beneath
				the circle in numerals no smaller than 4 inches in height.
4.
a. In
				addition to the requirements of subparagraph (1)(a)2., the buoy attached to
				each trap used to harvest blue crab, other than those used to harvest for
				commercial purposes, shall have a legible "R", at least two inches high,
				permanently affixed to it. A buoy is not required on a trap fished from a
				dock.
b. Each trap used to harvest
				blue crab, other than those used to harvest for commercial purposes, shall have
				the harvester's full name, address, and unless exempt pursuant to subsection
				68B-45.011(3),
				F.A.C., a valid recreational blue crab trap identification number assigned by
				the annual Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration pursuant to Rule
				68B-45.011, F.A.C., permanently
				affixed to it in legible letters.
5. Each trap with a mesh size of 1 1/2 inches
				or larger shall have at least three unobstructed escape rings installed, each
				with a minimum inside diameter of 2 3/8 inches. One such escape ring shall be
				located on a vertical outer surface adjacent to each crab retaining
				chamber.
6. Each throat (entrance)
				in any trap used to harvest blue crabs shall be horizontally oriented, i.e.,
				the width of the opening where the throat meets the vertical wall of the trap
				and the opening of the throat at its farthest point from the vertical wall,
				inside the trap, is greater than the height of any such opening. No such throat
				shall extend farther than 6 inches into the inside of any trap, measured from
				the opening where the throat meets the vertical wall of the trap to the opening
				of the throat at its farthest point from the vertical wall, inside the trap.
				Beginning March 1, 2023, each throat or entrance in a trap used to harvest blue
				crabs, other than those used to harvest for commercial purposes, shall comply
				with terrapin bychatch reduction requirements as provided in subsection
				(8).
7. Subparagraphs 1. through 6.
				shall not apply to any trap used to harvest blue crabs for other than
				commercial purposes, which trap has a volume of no more than 1 cubic foot and
				is fished from a vessel, a dock, or from shore.