STATE OF FLORIDA
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Order No. EO 10-29 Emergency Closure of State Waters of the
Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission of the State of Florida, acting under the authority of Article IV, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution, through its Executive Director under Delegations of Authority Paragraph 17 and Paragraph 22 and Executive Order of the Governor Number 10-115, as amended, and in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, takes the following precautionary actions regarding harvest and consumption of saltwater fish and marine invertebrates that may come in contact with or be impacted by oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This order does not apply to oysters, clams and mussels. Oil from the spill is now present in the area described in Paragraph 1 below.
1. All harvest and possession (commercial and recreational) of saltwater fish and marine invertebrates other than oysters, clams and mussels from Florida waters is prohibited in the following described area:
All state waters seaward of the COLREGS demarcation line, encompassing an area from the Florida-Alabama border eastward to the Pensacola Beach water tower. This area is further described:
Commencing at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico at Pensacola Beach at 87 degrees 8.48 minutes west longitude and 30 degrees 19.83 minutes north latitude; thence south to the limit of state jurisdictional waters of the Gulf of Mexico at 87 degrees 8.48 minutes west longitude and 30 degrees 10.66 minutes north latitude; thence in a westerly direction along the southern limit of state jurisdictional waters to the southwest corner of the closed area at 87 degrees 31.09 minutes west longitude and 30 degrees 7.53 minutes north latitude; thence north along the state line between Florida and Alabama to the edge of the Gulf of Mexico at Perdido Key at 87 degrees 31.09 minutes west longitude and 30 degrees 16.79 minutes north latitude; thence eastward along the barrier island beaches and COLREGS line to the point of commencement at Pensacola Beach.
2. The transport aboard any vessel of any of legally harvested saltwater fish or marine invertebrates through a closed area is prohibited, unless such transport is as direct, continuous, and expeditious as possible from the place where the saltwater or marine invertebrates were legally harvested to where the vessel is regularly docked, moored, or otherwise stored or to the licensed wholesale dealer where the catch is to be sold. Hovering, drifting, and other similar activities inconsistent with the direct, continuous, and expeditious transit of such vessels shall constitute a violation of section 1 by each person present aboard the vessel.
3. Recreational catch and release, which does not lead to harvest or possession of any saltwater fish, is not prohibited.
4. This order shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 14, 2010 and remain in effect until repealed, extended or modified by subsequent order.
Specific Authority: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution
Law Implemented: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution
and 120.81(5), Florida Statutes
Effective Date: 12:01 a.m., June 14, 2010
Given under my hand and seal of the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
On this _____ day of June.
____________________________________
Attest: _______________ Nick Wiley, Executive Director
Agency Clerk