The purpose and intent of this rule is to improve recreational harvest data collection capabilities and estimates of trap effort for the recreational blue crab trap fishery by identifying the population of recreational harvesters participating in this trap fishery.
    (1)(a) Recreational harvesters are required to report their intention to harvest or attempt to harvest blue crabs using traps in the upcoming year. A recreational harvester may not deploy a trap authorized by paragraph 68B-45.004(1)(a) or by subsections 68B-45.004(2)-(3), F.A.C., or harvest from or attempt to harvest from, fish with, set, or place such a trap in or on Florida Waters, unless that person has reported their intention to do so by completing the Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration within the previous 12 months. Upon completion of the Recreational Blue Crab Trap Registration, a recreational harvester will be assigned a series of five recreational blue crab trap identification numbers.
    (b) Under Florida Statutes § 379.401(1), failure to file reports required of persons who hold recreational licenses is a non-criminal infraction.
    (2) Commission-issued proof of registration required in subsection (1) must be in the personal possession of the recreational harvester while the recreational harvester is harvesting or attempting to harvest blue crabs with a trap authorized by paragraph 68B-45.004(1)(a) or subsections 68B-45.004(2)-(3), F.A.C., in or on Florida Waters, or in possession of a blue crab trap authorized by paragraph 68B-45.004(1)(a) or subsections 68B-45.004(2)-(3), F.A.C., or blue crab harvested from such traps in or on Florida Waters.
    (3) Persons meeting the criteria outlined in paragraphs 379.353(2)(a), (i), (j), and (o), F.S., are exempt from the reporting requirement established by this rule.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 1-1-20.