FWC EXTENDS HOLD ON LOBSTER TRAP REDUCTION
CONTACT: Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule on Thursday to continue its current suspension of commercial trap reduction in the spiny lobster fishery. The FWC also received an update on recent activity regarding its ad hoc Spiny Lobster Advisory Board and directed staff to continue working with this group to develop management recommendations for the spiny lobster fishery.

The FWC began a comprehensive evaluation of Florida’s spiny lobster fishery, including biological, economic and social issues, in early 2004. During the evaluation process, the annual reduction in commercial lobster traps associated with the Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program was halted by rule until the end of the evaluation.

The rule approved by the Commission extends the suspension on lobster trap reduction through the 2007-08 license year and will help maintain the current management of the lobster fishery while the evaluation of the fishery is completed.

The FWC’s Spiny Lobster Advisory Board is composed of stakeholders to provide guidance to the Commission regarding the management of Florida’s lobster fishery. The Board is developing management recommendations on several key issues, including landings allocation among fishing sectors, season length, size limits, fishery effects on the environment, the two-day special recreational season and the commercial dive fishery.

The FWC also conducted a series of seven public workshops in central and south Florida in October and November to receive public comments on these issues.

The Commission expressed support for ensuring that the lobster industry in Florida is preserved for the future, and requested more information regarding a proposal to allow legal artificial habitats for lobster and how the sponge industry interacts with the lobster fishery.

The FWC will conduct a series of additional Spiny Lobster Advisory Board meetings in early 2007, and will consider possible rule changes late next year. New lobster regulations could possibly be in place by the 2008-09 fishing season.

More information regarding the Spiny Lobster Advisory Board and lobster management issues is available at MyFWC.com/marine/workgroups/index.html#Spiny_Lobster.