Each person harvesting or attempting to harvest shrimp in the Northwest Region shall comply with the requirements specified in this rule.

1. (1) Recreational Harvesters. A recreational harvester may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Northwest Region by or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in subsection 68B-31.006(1), F.A.C.
2. (2) Live Bait Shrimp Producers. A live bait shrimp producer may not harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp in or from Florida Waters of the Northwest Region by or with the use of gear or methods not expressly permitted in paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(b), F.A.C.

3. (3) Food Shrimp Producers. In or on the nearshore and inshore Florida Waters of the Northwest Region, a food shrimp producer may harvest or attempt to harvest shrimp only by or with the use of the following gear or methods:

   1. (a) No more than two unconnected roller frame trawls meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)3., F.A.C.
   2. (b) No more than two unconnected otter trawls meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)4., F.A.C.
   3. (c) No more than one try net meeting the specifications of subparagraph 68B-31.006(2)(c)5., F.A.C. Such try net shall be considered one of the two unconnected otter trawls allowed for food shrimp production pursuant to paragraph (b).

   4. (d) No more than two unconnected skimmer trawls meeting the following specifications:

      1. The perimeter around the leading edge of any skimmer trawl may not exceed 56 feet.

      2. No such skimmer trawl shall be larger in mesh area than specified by paragraph 68B-31.006(2)(a), F.A.C.

      3. Each skimmer trawl must have a TED installed meeting the requirements of subsection 68B-31.006(3), F.A.C.

      4. A person may not use any skimmer trawl, or possess any skimmer trawl that is rigged for fishing, if such trawl does not have a bycatch reduction device (BRD) installed meeting the requirements of subsection 68B-31.006(4), F.A.C.

   5. (e) Mesh size requirements.

      1. In the inside waters of the Northwest Region, a food shrimp producer may not use any trawl that has a mesh size less than 3/4 inch bar measurement in the body of the net and less than 5/8 inch bar measurement in the cod end.

      2. In any trawl with a rigid TED, the section of netting surrounding the TED may not have a mesh size smaller than 1/2 inch bar measurement and may not be more than 50 meshes in total length.

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 9-19-24.