Senate Bill 2354

    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 2354

    By Senator Clary





    7-1057A-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to a pilot baitfish tarpaulin

  3         seine program; establishing objectives for

  4         evaluation of the seines; authorizing the

  5         collection of fees from baitfish tarpaulin

  6         seine landings and the use of revenues for

  7         evaluation of the program; providing an

  8         effective date.

  9

10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

11

12         Section 1.  The Department of Environmental Protection

13  is authorized to conduct a 2-year study to evaluate the

14  existing pilot program created in section 42 of chapter

15  97-160, Laws of Florida, and section 24 of chapter 97-164,

16  Laws of Florida.

17         (1)  The study shall determine:

18         (a)  The effect of the pilot program on the health and

19  abundance of each baitfish species authorized for harvest with

20  the tarpaulin seine;

21         (b)  The potential for impacting nontargeted species

22  with the gear and equipment; and

23         (c)  Whether the durability and structural integrity of

24  the tarpaulin seines is sufficient to minimize potential

25  environmental damage and the need for cleanup activities.

26         (2)  The study shall include, but not be limited to,

27  fishery-dependent, onboard observations. The results of the

28  study shall be used to determine the future management of

29  baitfish stocks in Northwest Florida.

30         (3)  The department may levy and administer fees on all

31  saltwater products caught and landed by use of baitfish

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 2354
    7-1057A-98




  1  tarpaulin seines licensed under section 42 of chapter 97-160,

  2  Laws of Florida, and section 24 of chapter 97-164, Laws of

  3  Florida. The fees must be based on pounds of saltwater

  4  products landed and may not exceed 1 cent per pound. All fees

  5  collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the

  6  Marine Resource Conservation Trust Fund for use as provided in

  7  subsection (4).

  8         (4)  Fees shall be used to defray the cost of onboard

  9  observations of vessels licensed under the pilot program.

10  Excess fees may be used by the department to further the goals

11  of the study.

12         (5)  The department shall provide the Marine Fisheries

13  Commission with an interim status report by October 1, 1999,

14  and shall provide the commission and Legislature a final

15  report by October 1, 2000.

16         (6)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 120.54,

17  Florida Statutes, the department shall implement this section

18  without the adoption of rules.

19         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

20  law.

21

22            *****************************************

23                          SENATE SUMMARY

24    Authorizes a 2-year study for the Department of
      Environmental Protection to evaluate a pilot program for
25    a baitfish tarpaulin seine fishery created by the 1997
      Legislature. Provides an appropriation and requires
26    reports.

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