Fla. Admin. Code R. 68B-31.005 – Seasons; Open and Closed Periods

(1) In or on all inside waters of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and Clay counties:
1. (a) A person may not harvest shrimp beginning on April 1 and continuing through May 31 each year.
2. (b) Notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in Sections 379.247(4)(c) and (7)(a), F.S.,
  1. A food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp on Saturdays or Sundays.
  2. A food shrimp producer may only harvest shrimp during daylight hours.
  3. Except for the Friday after Thanksgiving, a food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp on legal state holidays. For the purposes of this subsection, “legal state holidays” means the paid holidays observed by all state agencies pursuant to Section 110.117(1), F.S.
(2) Florida East Coast Shrimp Bed Food Shrimp Closed Season.
1. (a) For purposes of this rule, “Florida East Coast Shrimp Bed” means all Florida Waters of Nassau, Duval, Clay, Putnam, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, Seminole, Brevard, Indian River, and St. Lucie counties.
2. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c), a food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp beginning April 1 and continuing through May 31 each year from any waters of the Florida East Coast Shrimp Bed.
3. (c) Paragraph (b) shall not apply to any person operating as a food shrimp producer during this period in or on Florida Waters east of a line extending from a point located at 30°26.658'N, 81°20.950'W, to a point located at 30°21.469'N, 81°20.325'W.
(3) Miami-Dade County Food Shrimp Production Season and Weekly Closures.
1. (a) 1. A food shrimp producer may harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters within Miami-Dade County beginning on November 1 each year and continuing through May 31 of the following year, subject to the weekly closures specified in paragraph (b).
  2. A food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters within Miami-Dade County beginning June 1 and continuing through October 31 each year.
2. (b) During the open season specified in subparagraph (a)1., a food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters within Miami-Dade County during the period each week beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and ending at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.
(4) Big Bend Region. A food shrimp producer may not harvest shrimp in or from the Big Bend Region beginning on July 1 and continuing through August 31 of each year.
(5) Specified waters of Franklin County.
1. (a) 1. Beginning on September 15 and continuing through December 31 each year, a person may not harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters within the portion of St. George Sound described in subparagraph 2.
  2. In St. George Sound, beginning at Royal Bluff, 29°47.601'N, 84°44.977'W; thence southwesterly to St. George Sound Light 8, located at 29°44.567'N, 84°45.765'W; thence along the south boundary of the Intracoastal Waterway Channel to St. George Sound Buoy 21, located at 29°43.362'N, 84°48.479'W; thence northwesterly to a point located at 29°44.952'N, 84°51.112'W; thence easterly along the shoreline of St. George Sound to the point of beginning, including all waters of Yents Bayou within the closure area.
2. (b) 1. Beginning on March 1 and continuing through May 31 each year, a person may not harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters within the portion of Apalachicola Bay described in subparagraph 2.
  2. In Apalachicola Bay, beginning at Green Point, 29°42.526'N, 85°02.155'W; thence southwesterly to St. Vincent Point, 29°40.427'N, 85°04.490'W; thence easterly to Two Mile Channel Light 1, located at 29°41.530'N, 85°0.756'W; thence southeasterly to Apalachicola River Entrance Light 2, located at 29°40.168'N, 84°58.127'W; thence northerly along the eastern boundary of the Intracoastal Waterway Channel to the western landfall of the John Gorrie Memorial Bridge (U.S. Highway 98); thence westerly along the shoreline of Apalachicola Bay to the point of beginning.
3. (c) Beginning on July 15 and continuing through September 14 each year, a person may not harvest shrimp in or from any Florida Waters of Apalachicola Bay and St. Vincent Sound in Franklin County between the hours of official sunrise and official sunset.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., Chapter 83-134, Laws of Fla., as amended by Chapter 84-121, Laws of Fla. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., Chapter 83-134, Laws of Fla., as amended by Chapter 84-121, Laws of Fla. History–New 1-1-92, Amended 9-30-96, Formerly 46-31.005, Amended 12-2-99, 9-19-24.