BREAKING NEWS: New Lionfish Legislature For Florida!

[iluvtheocean]

except i believe that jurisdiction is by FWC:

FWC Commission Update -The FWC Commission discussed several marine fisheries management issues at the April 16 meeting in Tallahassee.
At the meeting, the Commission:

• Set the Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper season to start the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 24, 2014) and remain open through July 14, closing July 15 (total of 52 days);
• Implemented a 200 commercial sea cucumber trip and vessel limit that will go into effect June 1, 2014;
• Moved forward with the creation of a Gulf Reef Fish Data Reporting System (this issue will come back before the Commission at the June meeting in Fort Myers for a final public hearing);
• Moved forward with several changes to how lionfish are managed (this issue will come back before the Commission at the June meeting in Fort Myers for a final public hearing).

• Prohibiting the importation of live lionfish;
• Prohibiting the development of aquaculture of lionfish;
• Allowing the harvest of lionfish when diving with a rebreather, a device that recycles air and allows divers to remain in the water for longer periods of time; and
• Increasing opportunities that will allow participants in approved tournaments and other organized events to spear lionfish or other invasive species in areas where spearfishing is not allowed. This will be done through a permitting system.

nothing on FWC's website says that it still isn't going to happen in one form or another.. we'll know more in JUNE

 

[MrChen]

I like the spearfishing one, that way we can get rid of them at BHB.

 

[iluvtheocean]

from how it's worded - they are looking at places like BHB & in the sanctuaries

 

[Johnoly]

interesting.... just saw an article that it was given preliminary approval by the wildlife commission (article dated 4/17)
Lionfish Ban Given Preliminary Approval In Florida « CBS Miami

FWC does not have jurisdiction over interstate/international commerce. That must be done by the legislature and that house bill failed to advance so it's dead.

Letting people shoot lionfish in a marine sanctuary is a totally different topic and your source has combined topics to confuse posters. One is a legislative bill, the other is an administrative rule and completely different. I would encourage anyone to attend an FWC meeting and even get up to speak. That's how we even got them to approve killing lionfish without a fishing license 3 years ago and we had alot of pushback from both law enforcement and the Eco groups, but we got it done. And we have more in the works, shhhhhhh !!!!