Four-month grouper fishing ban starts January 1

 Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print 

A ban on grouper fishing goes into effect Jan. 1.

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - A four-month ban on grouper fishing will take effect Jan. 1. Fishery managers and conservationists say several types of grouper have been overfished and need protection.

But charter boat captains and commercial fishermen in the Florida Keys say the ban will be economically devastating because it coincides with peak tourist season in the island chain.

The ban runs through April 30. Commercial and recreational fishermen won't be allowed to keep shallow-water grouper caught in federal and state Atlantic waters from North Carolina to Key West. The ban extends into state waters in the Gulf of Mexico off Monroe County.

Keys commercial fishermen say they're already reeling from low demand and low prices for spiny lobster and stone crabs.

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

• Subscribe for free!

More State Stories

• BP says oil spill costs reach $2 billion
• More north Florida beaches face tar ball and oil threat
• Three found dead in Orlando house fire
• New Orlando road to bear President Obama's name
• University board approves tuition increase statewide
• Attn. Harry Potter fans: Wizarding World now open
• Florida unemployment rate drops in May to 11.7 percent
• Gulf oil full of methane, adding new concerns
• Lawyers providing free help for oil-affected fishermen

July 4th

• Find recipes, party ideas, events and more on Tampa Bay on Demand, ch. 340, July 4th category!

• Listen live
• Employee blogs
• Twitter page

• Breaking alerts
• RSS news feed
• Upload video

Want to go green?

• Energy saving tips
• Eating green
• County by county recycling

Bay News 9's Partners