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Starting April 1, all fishing will be prohibited from April through July in a 1-square-mile area near Western Dry Rocks off Key West.
âThis science-based recommendation has been endorsed by many of our major fishing and conservation groups: the American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, Lower Keys Guides Association, Wild Oceans and the Congressional Sportsmenâs Foundation,â said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
Western Dry Rocks, which is about 10 miles southwest of Key West, is an important spawning location for many recreationally and commercially important species such as snapper, grouper and permit.
New regulations begin at Western Dry Rocks keysnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from keysnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
FWC approves draft proposal to protect fish spawning aggregations
At its December meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a draft proposal to protect fish spawning aggregations near an area known as Western Dry Rocks.
Western Dry Rocks, which is about 10 miles south of Key West, is an important spawning location for many recreationally and commercially important species such as snapper, grouper and permit. It is also a popular fishing location.
If approved at the February 2021 meeting, proposed changes would prohibit all fishing from May through June in a 1-square-mile area near Western Dry Rocks. Staff will also be evaluating whether to extend the closure to four months.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission board on Wednesday approved a draft rule for a two-month seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks off Key West, despite nearly every public speaker at the meeting asking for a four-month closure.
The FWC will hold public workshops on draft rule for Western Dry Rocks in January and then vote on a final rule when the FWC board meets in February. Exact dates for the workshops had yet to be set as of Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the FWC board called on FWC board Chair and Key West developer Robert Spottswood to direct the conversation and vote on the seasonal closure, which the FWC board agreed at this time to be May and June.