CORRECTION: Changes to the spiny lobster commercial dive endorsement effective July 1

THE TEXT OF THIS RELEASE WAS  ACCIDENTALLY TRANSPOSED IN A PREVIOUS EMAIL. THIS IS THE CORRECT VERSION.

 

June 19, 2015

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Changes to the spiny lobster commercial dive endorsement effective July 1

 

The following changes to the spiny lobster commercial dive endorsement (CD) program go into effect July 1:

• The moratorium on issuing new or additional CD endorsements has been extended indefinitely (this was set to expire July 1).

• Remaining valid CD endorsements can be transferred to another fisher.

• The person who was issued the CD endorsement no longer needs to be on board the vessel during trips where lobster are harvested, so long as the vessel is properly licensed.

• Outdated rule language related to qualification requirements, which are no longer applicable, has been removed and the remaining language clarified.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved these changes at its meeting April 15 in Tallahassee.

These changes will provide new opportunities to enter the lobster commercial dive fishery while maintaining traditional participation levels. Allowing endorsements to be transferred will also prevent the commercial spiny lobster dive industry from eventually being phased out.

Commercial harvesters targeting spiny lobster while diving are required to fish from a vessel licensed with a spiny lobster commercial dive endorsement along with a saltwater products license (Florida’s basic commercial license) and a restricted species endorsement.

For information about commercial spiny lobster, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Commercial” and “Lobster.”