23
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Ballyhoo (halfbeaks, balao, and silver stripe halfbeaks) License Requirements and Bag Limits by Method of Harvest
and Gear Used:
Harvest Method
Gear Used
License Requirements
Bag Limit
Directed harvest
Cast net, hook and line gear, landing
or dip net.
Saltwater Products License (SPL)
5 gallons fish per person per day or per vessel.
Directed harvest
Lampara net.
SPL, with both Purse Seine (PS) and
Lampara Net (L) endorsements.
10 boxes of fish per vessel (limit one trip
per day). ‡
Incidental bycatch
Purse seine or lampara net.
SPL, PS
10 gallons per person per day or per vessel.
Incidental bycatch
All other gear.
SPL
5 gallons fish per person or per vessel per day.
‡ Boxes must have rectangular or square sides, a base and lid with a dimension no larger than 4.25 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet (the volume equivalent of 17 feet 3 ).
Baitfish Regulations
Basic size and bag limits, closed seasons, license requirements,
and gear allowances are listed on pages 5 and 6. All license
requirements and general commercial fishing limitations apply
to species harvested as baitfish. Local limitations also apply to
the use of nets to harvest baitfish, such as herring, menhaden,
or sardines, in waters off the coasts of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco,
Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte, Collier, Lee and
Sarasota counties. Contact the regional FWC Law Enforcement
Office before using nets to commercially harvest baitfish. See:
FWC Law Enforcement Regional Offices on page 3.
A National Marine Sanctuary Permit is required to harvest
ballyhoo or herring in the Newfound Harbor Key, Cheeca Rocks,
Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Rock Key and Sand Key
sanctuary preservation areas (SPAs). All bycatch other than
ballyhoo, balao, halfbeaks, or herring must be returned to the
water alive. Lampara nets are prohibited in the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) Newfound Harbor Key
SPA, and cast nets used in Newfound Harbor Key SPA can be no
greater than 500 square feet in area (12’7” radius). Cast nets
and/or modified lampara nets that are no greater than 500 square
feet in area may be used in the Sand Key, Rock Key, Eastern Dry
Rocks, Hens and Chickens, and Cheeca Rocks SPAs. Contact with
or disturbance of the seabed is prohibited in the SPAs. Harvest
of baitfish by hook and line in the Newfound Harbor Key, Cheeca
Rocks, Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Rock Key and
Sand Key SPAs
is prohibited.
“Marine Life” Regulations (Tropical/Ornamentals)
Marine Life Chart on Page 15
Florida’s commercial marine life fishery involves harvest of live
saltwater finfish, invertebrates and plants, primarily for the aquarium
trade. These organisms are landed and sold alive to wholesalers,
retailers and aquarium owners. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS)
and Marine Life tiered endorsement is required for harvest of marine
life species listed in rule 68B-42, F.A.C.
Marine Life Transferable Dive (MLD)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of listed marine life species
using allowable gears, including harvest by diving. Initially issued to
applicants with a reported income of at least $5000 from landings of
marine life species or live rock during one of the license years between
July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2003. The MLD is transferable to another
person with an SPL & RS. Requalification for this endorsement
begins in 2010/2011, based on prior years landings.
Marine Life Bycatch Endorsement (MLB)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of marine life as bycatch
which does not include harvest by diving. For persons who collected
marine life primarily as bycatch in other fisheries, with gear other than
diving gear, and with reported sales of less than $5000 during one of
the qualifying years. The bycatch endorsement is also transferable.
Marine Life Non-Transferable Dive (MLN)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of marine life by diving
using dive gear for persons who had less than $5000 in marine life
landings or held a state live rock lease or federal live rock permit
during one of the qualifying years and wish to harvest by diving. This
endorsement is only transferable to immediate family members in the
event of death or disability.
BALLYHOO
38
Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations
Ballyhoo (halfbeaks, balao, and silver stripe halfbeaks) License Requirements and Bag Limits by Method of Harvest
and Gear Used:
Harvest Method
Gear Used
License Requirements
Bag Limit
Directed harvest
Cast net, hook and line gear, landing
or dip net.
Saltwater Products License (SPL)
5 gallons fish per person per day or per vessel.
Directed harvest
Lampara net.
SPL, with both Purse Seine (PS) and
Lampara Net (L) endorsements.
10 boxes of fish per vessel (limit one trip
per day). ‡
Incidental bycatch
Purse seine or lampara net.
SPL, PS
10 gallons per person per day or per vessel.
Incidental bycatch
All other gear.
SPL
5 gallons fish per person or per vessel per day.
‡ Boxes must have rectangular or square sides, a base and lid with a dimension no larger than 4.25 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet (the volume equivalent of 17 feet 3 ).
Baitfish Regulations
Basic size and bag limits, closed seasons, license requirements,
and gear allowances are listed on pages 5 and 6. All license
requirements and general commercial fishing limitations apply
to species harvested as baitfish. Local limitations also apply to
the use of nets to harvest baitfish, such as herring, menhaden,
or sardines, in waters off the coasts of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco,
Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte, Collier, Lee and
Sarasota counties. Contact the regional FWC Law Enforcement
Office before using nets to commercially harvest baitfish. See:
FWC Law Enforcement Regional Offices on page 3.
A National Marine Sanctuary Permit is required to harvest
ballyhoo or herring in the Newfound Harbor Key, Cheeca Rocks,
Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Rock Key and Sand Key
sanctuary preservation areas (SPAs). All bycatch other than
ballyhoo, balao, halfbeaks, or herring must be returned to the
water alive. Lampara nets are prohibited in the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) Newfound Harbor Key
SPA, and cast nets used in Newfound Harbor Key SPA can be no
greater than 500 square feet in area (12’7” radius). Cast nets
and/or modified lampara nets that are no greater than 500 square
feet in area may be used in the Sand Key, Rock Key, Eastern Dry
Rocks, Hens and Chickens, and Cheeca Rocks SPAs. Contact with
or disturbance of the seabed is prohibited in the SPAs. Harvest
of baitfish by hook and line in the Newfound Harbor Key, Cheeca
Rocks, Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Rock Key and
Sand Key SPAs
is prohibited.
“Marine Life” Regulations (Tropical/Ornamentals)
Marine Life Chart on Page 15
Florida’s commercial marine life fishery involves harvest of live
saltwater finfish, invertebrates and plants, primarily for the aquarium
trade. These organisms are landed and sold alive to wholesalers,
retailers and aquarium owners. An SPL with a Restricted Species (RS)
and Marine Life tiered endorsement is required for harvest of marine
life species listed in rule 68B-42, F.A.C.
Marine Life Transferable Dive (MLD)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of listed marine life species
using allowable gears, including harvest by diving. Initially issued to
applicants with a reported income of at least $5000 from landings of
marine life species or live rock during one of the license years between
July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2003. The MLD is transferable to another
person with an SPL & RS. Requalification for this endorsement
begins in 2010/2011, based on prior years landings.
Marine Life Bycatch Endorsement (MLB)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of marine life as bycatch
which does not include harvest by diving. For persons who collected
marine life primarily as bycatch in other fisheries, with gear other than
diving gear, and with reported sales of less than $5000 during one of
the qualifying years. The bycatch endorsement is also transferable.
Marine Life Non-Transferable Dive (MLN)
Required to harvest commercial quantities of marine life by diving
using dive gear for persons who had less than $5000 in marine life
landings or held a state live rock lease or federal live rock permit
during one of the qualifying years and wish to harvest by diving. This
endorsement is only transferable to immediate family members in the
event of death or disability.
BALLYHOO
38