Section 68B-53.0061 - Gear Specifications; Prohibited Areas(1) Otter Trawl Specifications - (a) No such trawl shall be towed for more than 25 minutes, beginning when the trawl is placed in the water and ending when the trawl is completely removed from the water.(b) In the areas where the use of such trawls is allowed by subsection (2), no more than two unconnected otter trawls, each with a headrope no longer than 40 feet, a perimeter around the leading edge of the net not greater than 120 feet, and a mesh area not greater than 500 square feet, shall be deployed from any vessel.(c) No such trawl shall be deployed or fished that has a mesh size anywhere in the trawl body or bag less than 3 inches stretched mesh or that has a twine size smaller than #84.(d) No such trawl shall be used for the directed harvest of any species other than calico scallops. Any bycatch of other species shall be immediately returned to the water where caught.(e) Such trawls, to the extent that they meet each provision of this rule, shall be exempt from the Turtle Excluder Device (TED) requirement of subsection 68B-31.006(3), F.A.C., and the applicable regional Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) requirements of Chapter 68B-31, F.A.C.(2) Prohibited Areas - (a) No otter trawl shall be used in the directed harvest of calico scallops within all state waters of Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties, and all state waters of Wakulla County east of the following described line: Beginning at the St. Marks Lighthouse, proceed southerly on a straight line to flashing channel marker #1; thence, southerly in a straight line to a point on the state waters boundary where a straight line from flashing channel marker #1 to flashing bell buoy #24 intersects with said boundary.(b) No otter trawl shall be used in the directed harvest of calico scallops within all state waters shoreward of a line one mile seaward of the Colregs Demarcation Line, except that in Wakulla, Franklin, and Gulf Counties, all state waters shoreward of a line three miles seaward of the Colregs Demarcation Line.(c) No otter trawl shall be used in the directed harvest of calico scallops within all waters closed to the use of otter trawls for the harvest of shrimp, during the time periods indicated, as specified in subsection 68B-31.005(2), F.A.C., paragraph 68B-31.008(2)(b), F.A.C., Rule 68B-38.001, F.A.C. and subsection 68B-31.0063(5), F.A.C.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-53.0061
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.
New 9-1-13, Amended by Florida Register Volume 50, Number 148, July 30, 2024 effective 8/14/2024.