FWC Report - July 16 to 22

During the week of July 16 to 22, officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement took action against commercial fishermen in violation of state regulations.

Lt. Kent Harvey was on water patrol in Apalachicola Bay in the area of East Hole oyster bar, when he stopped a vessel engaged in harvesting shellfish.  One of the occupants on the vessel did not have an Apalachicola Bay harvesting permit or a saltwater products license. 

Harvey checked with communications on the status of his license, and found the subject never possessed either license.  The subject was warned and advised to have a license next time he returned to the oyster bar.  The next day, Harvey encountered the same two subjects again harvesting shellfish.  He stopped the vessel and cited the individual for harvesting shellfish without an Apalachicola Bay permit and no saltwater products license.  In addition, the operator was cited for numerous boating safety violations, which he was warned for the prior day.

Officers Travis Huckeba and John Allen were working plainclothes water patrol on Apalachicola Bay, when they observed a vessel engaged in harvesting mullet with nets.  Both officers set up surveillance on the vessel, and determined that the individuals were fishing with illegal nets.  After observing them for a period of time, the officers conducted a vessel stop and found the individuals in possession of two illegal entangling nets.  The nets were seized and the subjects cited for fishing nets with illegal mesh size, use of entangling nets, possession of  entangling nets, and fishing nets over 500 square feet.  Both subjects arrested are repeat offenders.