FLORIDA, USA — Florida is lifting its three-decade ban on catching and killing goliath groupers after wildlife officials argued their numbers have rebounded.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday approved a proposal to allow the recreational harvest of 200 goliaths per year from March to May. South Florida and the Florida Keys will be off-limits, and the size of the catch would be kept between 20 inches and 36 inches.
Among the other proposed rules is a lottery to issue a recreational harvest permit and tag. The cost of the tag would be $500, according to FWC.
The goliath almost died off in the 1980s from overfishing and pollution and is not allowed to be caught in any other state or federal waters.
