Florida Eases Commercial Lobster Diver Rules
SEAFOODNEWS.COM [Key West Citizen] By Adam Linhardt - April 20, 2015 -
Things are about to get easier for commercial lobster divers looking to expand or sell their business.
New Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rules set to go into effect July 1 will allow commercial lobster divers to sell their licenses to people other than immediate family members, which is currently prohibited.
The changes also will remove the requirement that an endorsement holder be on board his or her vessel when lobster are being harvested, in much the same way other commercial fishing captains are allowed to let their crews run their boat in their absence.
Since 2004, commercial divers targeting lobster were required to have a commercial dive endorsement for lobster, along with a saltwater products license (Florida's basic commercial license) and a restricted species endorsement.
The pending changes to the dive endorsement are key for the industry, as the other two licenses are easier to acquire...
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