B. Alternatives Concerning Commercial Fishing 



Environmental consequences of wire trapping, lobster trapping, net 

 and hook and line fishing were analyzed to determine whether or not 

 proposed restrictions were warranted. Available data do not support 

 controls on net and hook and line fishing at this time (see Chapter 2, 

 VI). The following specific alternatives were considered for wire trap 

 usage and lobster trapping. 



1. Regulatory Alternatives for Wire Trap Fishing 



a. Status quo: Unrestricted use of wire traps within all 

 boundary alternatives . 



Recently wire trap fishing has become a highly controversial 

 and emotional issue. Unfortunately very little documented evidence exists 

 regarding actual or potential environmental, sociological and economic 

 impacts of trap usage. 



Both the draft FMP for snapper-grouper resources and the first 

 quarterly report (November 1979 - January 1980) on the wire trap fishery 

 conducted jointly by the Florida Department of Natural Resources (FDNR) 

 and the National Marine Fisheries Service 'NMFS) offer information relating 

 to wire fish trapping in the Florida Keys. The latter report, the most 

 recent information available, represents data from the first 3 months 

 of the 12 month study. 



At present, no regulations govern the use of wire fish traps 

 in this area. However, several management measures on the use of traps 

 are proposed in the draft FMP for snapper-grouper resources, including: 

 (1) traps will have degradeable panels of appropriate size (at least as 

 large as the entry ports) or degradeable door fasteners; (2) traps will 

 have mesh no smaller than 1x2 inches or 1.5 inch hexagonal; (3) trap 

 and buoys must be identified with the boat of the owner by a color code; 

 (4) a person must not fish traps other than his own without written 

 authorization of the owner; (5) pulling traps is prohibited between the 

 period one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise; (6) traps may 

 not be larger than 54 cubic feet; and (7) the use of fish traps will be 

 prohibited shoreward of the 100 foot contour. Measures 1, 2, 6 and 7 are 

 conservation oriented. The purpose of the degradeable panel is to prevent 

 lost or "ghost" traps from continuing to capture fish. Specification of a 

 minimum mesh size is intended to provide for escapement of juvenile fish. 

 The draft FMP includes that a reasonable limitation on the size of traps 

 and on the areas where they can be deployed is warranted at this time to 

 lessen user group conflicts and until the biological, social and economic 

 impacts of the gear can be more fully evaluated. Measures 3, 4 and 5 are 

 intended to discourage poaching and theft and will improve the enforceability 

 of the other management measures pertaining to the trap fishery. 



According to the first quarterly report, wire fish trapping 

 in Monroe (and Collier) Counties is a popular fishing method. Although it 

 has been used intermittently since the Depression, the use of wire traps 

 for commercial fishing is relatively new. According to the Florida Sea 

 Grant, their general acceptance in the Florida Keys started in 1976-77. 



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