FWC modifies swordfish rules
News Release
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Media contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554
(Back to Commission meeting
news)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) approved draft rule amendments on Thursday that
make recreational swordfish regulations in state waters of Florida
consistent with regulations in federal waters of the South Atlantic
and Gulf of Mexico.
Swordfish in Atlantic and Gulf federal waters are
managed by the NOAA Fisheries Service. The most recent stock
assessment for swordfish indicates that the stock is not considered
to be overfished and is not undergoing overfishing, and swordfish
abundance is considered to be healthy and sustainable.
The FWC approved a series of rule amendments for
swordfish in state waters that are consistent with federal
regulations. These rules increase the limit for recreational
vessels from three swordfish to four per vessel, create a special
charter boat vessel limit of six swordfish and a special headboat
vessel limit of 15 swordfish, retain the individual daily bag limit
of one swordfish per person except for the captain and crew of
for-hire vessels, and remove the 33-pound minimum swordfish weight
requirement.
More information about the new swordfish rules is
available online at MyFWC.com/Commission, linked from the June
23-24 meeting agenda. These rules are expected to take effect
in early August.
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