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FWC AND FISHERMEN WILL EXPLORE NET TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER February 4, 2005 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule revisions Thursday to incorporate constitutional and statutory net-fishing provisions into FWC rules and create net-measurement procedures and net-construction specifications. The action is an effort to consolidate net regulations into a more accessible common section of the Florida Administrative Code. In addition, the FWC agreed to form a net working group with commercial fishermen to explore emerging and innovative gear options to add to existing net gear regulations. The FWC interprets the state constitution to say that nets with greater than two-inch stretched mesh are illegal, because such nets may entangle marine life – which is prohibited by the Florida Constitution. During Thursday’s session of the FWC’s three-day regular meeting at Panama City Beach, commercial fishermen indicated that interpretation may not be accurate in some cases and requested an opportunity to demonstrate why. Commissioners agreed to form a group, consisting of FWC staff and commercial fishermen, to evaluate and test new developments in net technology. HPC/CR
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