Stone Crab Amendment 8

This was the Council’s Generic Amendment addressing the establishment of Tortugas Marine Reserves.

Stone Crab Amendment 7

Amendment 7 creates a trap reduction program for the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that complements a similar program for the Florida fishery. Trap certificates issued will be reduced when transferred. Certificates can be bought, sold, and transferred.

This final rule is effective November 4, 2002 except for amendments to § 654.4 (a), which is effective December 2, 2002.

Stone Crab Amendment 6

Amendment 6 extended the moratorium on the issuance of registration of stone crab vessels by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) through June 30, 2002.

This final rule is effective August 20, 1998.

Stone Crab Amendment 5

Amendment 5 placed a three-year moratorium on registration of stone crab vessels by the Regional Administrator (RA) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This was done for the period, April 15, 1995 – June 30, 1998, because the Florida Legislature proposed a state moratorium on issuance of permits while the industry considered development of a limited access system. Amendment 5 also included a protocol and procedure (framework measure) under which the RA could approve for implementation in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) certain types of rules proposed by the state of Florida after review by the Advisory Panel (AP), Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council).

Amendment 5 also updated the description of the fishery habitat and the factors affecting this habitat. The Council published a control date effective July 24, 1995 (60 FR 37868) for the commercial fishery; the effect of which was to notify fishermen entering the fishery after this date that they may not be allowed to participate in the fishery if that date is used in a limited access program to limit entry.

This final rule is effective on April 14, 1995 (60 FR 13918).

Stone Crab Amendment 4

Amendment 4 contained provisions for adding a scientifically measurable definition of overfishing and an action plan to arrest overfishing, should it occur, as required by the Magnuson Act National Standards (50 CFR 602), a section on vessel safety considerations, and a revised habitat section as required by the Magnuson Act.

This final rule is effective February 13, 1991 (56 FR 6837).

Stone Crab Amendment 3

Amendment 3 included management measures to enhance survival of crabs held on board vessels and prohibited harvest of egg-bearing female crabs. It also rescinded the logbook reporting provision and substituted the Florida trip ticket system.

This final rule is effective September 25, 1986 (51 FR 30663).

Stone Crab Amendment 2

Amendment 2 established procedures for resolving gear conflicts in central west Florida.

This final rule is effective August 31, 1984 (49 FR 30713).

Stone Crab Amendment 1

Amendment 1 specified a procedure for modifying the zoned area to resolve the gear conflict.

This final rule is effective November 8, 1982 (47 FR 41757).

Original Stone Crab Fishery Management Plan

The Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) was implemented on September 30, 1979 (44 FR 53519). The FMP resolved an armed conflict over competing gear use between stone crab and shrimp fishermen operating in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off southwest Florida and extended Florida’s rules regulating the fishery into the EEZ. The management area of the FMP is limited to the EEZ seaward of the west coast of Florida in the Gulf.

This final rule is effective September 30, 1979.