Ret Talbot has just reported on his “Good Catch Blog” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissioners today have unanimously proposed a set of rules that ban the importation of lionfish from the Pterois genus and sets other rules for the harvest and possession of this non-native species that is plaguing the state. We have written extensively on the negative impact this species has on the local environment as well as creative ways the state is trying to eradicate the fish.
Talbot posted this brief on today’s decision and noted this issue will be extensively covered in the next issue of CORAL Magazine:
Today Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissioners approved unanimously the proposed final rules that 1) prohibit the importation of live lionfish from the genus Pterois, 2) allow persons diving by means of a rebreather to harvest and possess lionfish, and 3) allow the Executive Director to issue permits to events in order to allow the use of spearfishing gears in areas where the activity is prohibited to remove lionfish or other nonnative invasive species.
While these rules will only apply to Florida, the effects may be far reaching in the marine aquarium trade. The rules will become effective 1 August 2014
[via Good Catch Blog]
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