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FWC proposes ways to help recover traps
and trap debris from marine waters
June 14, 2007
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, (850) 487-0554
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) proposed new rules on Thursday to make it
easier to recover or remove lobster and crab traps from state
waters under certain conditions.
The draft rules would help spiny lobster, stone
crab and blue crab fishers recover their traps following major
storms by letting licensed trap fishers designate people to
recover and possess their traps when the governor and FWC
declare an emergency.
The new rules also would exempt local, state or
federal officials from having to get FWC approval before
removing traps, derelict traps and trap debris from areas where
trapping is prohibited.
The FWC recently held six statewide public
workshops to receive comment on the proposed rules. A final
public hearing on the rules will take place during the FWC’s
Sept. 12-14 meeting in St. Petersburg. |
