Commercial gillnetters who refuse to accept the legal reality that the constitutional prohibition on gill nets means no gill nets received another setback in the Florida Legislature this year, thanks to the efforts of seven legislators who put the brakes on SB 1178 and HB 741, which would have allowed the use of any net meshes--including sizes designed to gill fish.

With the 2005 Legislative Conservation Awards, Coastal Conservation Association Florida thanked Senators Paula Dockery, Ken Pruitt and Mike Bennett, Representatives Andy Gardiner, Marty Bowen, Donna Clarke and Jack Seiler, and Attorney General Charlie Crist, who stated that “the proposed legislation would allow use of a gear that is expressly prohibited by Article X, Section 16, Florida Constitution.”

Anglers should also commend Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher for coming out against giving to federal authorities the power to set fishing laws for Tortugas National Park. The feds want to wipe out all recreational fishing in the western half of the park (see Ban Tortugas Park Fishing). Gallagher is one of four cabinet officials who will decide the fishing-law jurisdiction issue.

FS