• Boarding only those persons who wear masks.
  
  
• Instructing persons that Federal law requires wearing a mask on the conveyance and failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law.
  
  
• Monitoring persons on board the conveyance for anyone who is not wearing a mask and seeking compliance from such persons.
  
  
• At the earliest opportunity, disembarking any person who refuses to comply.
  
  
• Providing persons with prominent and adequate notice to facilitate awareness and compliance of the requirement of this Order to wear a mask.
  
  
• Best practices may include, if feasible, advanced notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted signage in multiple languages with illustrations; printing the requirement on transit tickets; or other methods as appropriate.

Three topics vital to the diving industry in Florida and everywhere are on the FWC Agenda:

1. Harvesting Goliath Grouper
2. Shark predation during fishing activities
3. Spiny lobster mini season in the Florida Keys

It is critically important that the diving industry provides comments to the FWC in advance. Advanced comments should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, May 7, 2021.

HARVESTING GOLIATH GROUPER
This topic was addressed in a previous DEMA Alert. Please submit your written comments in favor of maintaining the harvest moratorium to the FWC using the portal found here. If possible, attend the virtual FWC meeting on this topic scheduled to take place on May 12 starting at 9:00 AM Eastern time. In addition, consider signing the online petition distributed by our friends at Sea Save. The online petition can be found here. Harvesting Goliath Grouper is a critical issue and one which will impact diving in Florida for years to come.

SHARK PREDATION DURING FISHING ACTIVITIES
DEMA is highly concerned that the FWC has convened a “roundtable discussion” about shark interactions with fishers without directly including the diving industry. This issue is concerning in part because many in the fishing community are placing blame for shark predation on their fishing activities on conservation measures favored by the diving community and postulated increases in the shark population. DEMA has repeatedly asked the FWC not to remove or relax shark conservation measures as data do not support their removal. DEMA has also reminded the FWC that allowing divers have encounters with sharks is a powerful way of creating shark advocates while also having a positive economic impact on the Florida diving business community and ecosystem. The FWC Summary Memo on the Shark discussion can be found here.

DEMA remains opposed to relaxing shark conservation measures as there is absolutely no data to indicate that shark populations have recovered. Multiple sources and studies continue to indicate that sharks continue to be overfished. DEMA’s recent correspondence with FWC regarding shark diving can be found here.

While FWC will NOT allow public comments during or after their scheduled roundtable discussion, the diving community can submit written comments opposing any relaxing of shark conservation measures on the FWC comments portal found here.

SPINY LOBSTER MINI SEASON IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
Every year, Florida opens a two-day “mini season” to allow for the recreational harvest of spiny lobster. The two-day mini season takes place prior to opening the “regular” harvest season and was created in 1974 to minimize recreational user conflicts with commercial lobster fishers. In 1992, the mini season was moved to the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year to help mitigate congestion from users coming to Florida and the Keys to take part in the activity. Lobster mini season injects millions of dollars each year into the economies of Florida and especially the Keys.

FWC is using the May FWC meeting to discuss potential user group limitations on mini season in the Florida Keys. Such limitations could include the use of a lottery system whereby some users would be prevented from participating, while others are allowed, as well as other regulations. Additional information can be found in a recent Keys Weekly article here. Additionally, FWC’s presentation on this issue can be found here.

Since at least 1992, there have been discussions from various groups about limiting or discontinuing spiny lobster mini season. Many cite traffic and crowding, but it is clear that Florida’s tourism and diving industry benefit economically from this already highly regulated activity. Further regulation or discontinuation of spiny lobster mini season would be detrimental to dive operators who depend on this activity as a part of their annual sales revenue. As indicated in their presentation, FWC believes that the lobster fishery is not at risk (the recreational lobster harvest accounts for only about 23% of the overall harvest) but FWC has expressed concern regarding the potential for damage due to careless harvesting.

As time for public comments has been limited to one hour, and FWC has requested comments, divers and dive professionals should provide written comments to FWC through their comment portal.

DEMA encourages all divers and dive professionals with an interest in recreational diving in Florida to participate in this critical FWC meeting on May 12 and May 13. Advanced comments should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, May 7, 2021.

For more information, contact PublicPolicy@dema.org.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued order, Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks while on Transportation Hubs, 29JAN2021, requiring all persons travelling on all commercial vessels to wear a mask. DEMA has learned that this mandate includes all commercial vessels used for dive charters or other dive-related activities.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued Marine Safety Information Bulletin 2-21 outlining these requirements.

According to the Marine Safety Bulletin, this Order requires U.S. conveyance operators to use best efforts to ensure that any person on the conveyance wears a mask when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel. Depending on the circumstances, best efforts may include:

• Boarding only those persons who wear masks.
• Instructing persons that Federal law requires wearing a mask on the conveyance and failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law.
• Monitoring persons on board the conveyance for anyone who is not wearing a mask and seeking compliance from such persons.
• At the earliest opportunity, disembarking any person who refuses to comply.
• Providing persons with prominent and adequate notice to facilitate awareness and compliance of the requirement of this Order to wear a mask.
• Best practices may include, if feasible, advanced notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted signage in multiple languages with illustrations; printing the requirement on transit tickets; or other methods as appropriate.
  

Questions concerning this notice may be forwarded to U.S. Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, at wearamask@uscg.mil.

FWC’s recommendations for Biscayne National Park have included prohibiting lobstering in certain areas of the park, as well as restricting the use of triggering devices and breathing apparatus while spear fishing.  Although the restrictions on spear fishing are no longer part of the FWC’s staff recommendations, the Commission may still consider this previously recommended restriction prior to final rule making.  FWC introduced these two diving-related regulations as part of their Fisheries Management Plan for BNP. 

IMPORTANTLY, FWC HAS NO DATA TO CORROBORATE THEIR PLAN FOR RESTRICTING EITHER SPEAR FISHING OR THE TWO-DAY MINI-LOBSTER SEASON.

UNLIKE FOR DIVING, FWC HAS NO SPECIAL PLANS TO RESTRICT HOOK AND LINE FISHING ACTIVITIES.  DEMA believes FWC sees this as an opportunity to target and restrict diving activities, while placing the burden on divers for reaching FWC’s goal of increasing the size and abundance of fishery species in the Park by 20%.  Within their original presentation, FWC clearly states that the issues of management of the Park are related to (a) the Park’s proximity to urban areas, (b) reduced water quality, (c) marine debris, (d) vessel groundings and (e) fishing pressure.  Fish size and species abundance in Biscayne National Park are not related to diving activities, and certainly not to selective activities such as spear fishing. 

FWC has released their presentation on the FINAL Rules for Biscayne National Park.  It is important to note that among them is the recommendation to “Establish Coral Reef Protection Areas (CRPA’s) inside BNP where lobstering would be prohibited.” Such open-ended recommendations could easily lead to unwarranted restrictions on diving in general, and the two-day lobster mini season specifically.  If these CRPA rules are adopted, divers will not be allowed to take lobster, but fishing will continue uninterrupted.  This meeting on February 19^th is the last opportunity for divers to have input as it is FWC practice for Final Rules to be implemented as is, and there is no legal challenge available following adoption.

DEMA strongly urges divers and diving professionals to attend the FWC Public Meeting scheduled for February 19^th in Tallahassee to voice that diving restrictions are not warranted, and restrictions to spearfishing and the lobster mini-season should only be enacted if similar restrictions are placed on hook and line fishing.  IF DIVERS DO NOT ATTEND THIS MEETING FWC WILL ASSUME THAT THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THESE RESTRICTIONS. PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL DIVERS AND YOUR DIVING CUSTOMERS TO ATTEND!

If you are unable to attend the February 19 FWC meeting, write directly to the Fish and Wildlife Commission BEFORE FEBRUARY 19 and ask them to remove these unnecessary restrictions on vital diving activities in the Park.  Send your written comments directly to: Marine@MyFWC.com and Commissioners@MyFWC.com.

DEMA has sent a letter to FWC outlining our concerns.  Please feel free to use DEMA's comments to assist in writing your own to the Commission.

DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international organization dedicated to the sustained growth of the recreational scuba diving and snorkeling industry.  For more information on DEMA, call 858-616-6408 or visit www.dema.org. 

To date, FWC’s recommendations for Biscayne National Park have included prohibiting spear fishing on scuba or prohibiting trigger devices, and eliminating the two-day mini-lobster season in the Park.  FWC introduced these two diving-related regulations as part of their Fisheries Management Plan for BNP.

IMPORTANTLY, FWC HAS NO DATA TO CORROBORATE THEIR PLAN FOR RESTRICTING EITHER SPEAR FISHING OR THE TWO-DAY MINI-LOBSTER SEASON.

UNLIKE FOR DIVING, FWC HAS NO SPECIAL PLANS TO RESTRICT HOOK AND LINE FISHING ACTIVITIES. DEMA believes FWC sees this as an opportunity to target and restrict diving activities, while placing the burden on divers for reaching FWC’s goal of increasing the size and abundance of fishery species in the Park by 20%. Within their own presentation, FWC clearly states that the issues of management of the Park are related to (a) the Park’s proximity to urban areas, (b) reduced water quality, (c) marine debris, (d) vessel groundings and (e) fishing pressure. Fish size and species abundance in Biscayne National Park are not related to diving activities, and certainly not to selective activities such as spear fishing.

FWC has released their presentation on the Draft Rules for Biscayne National Park. It is important to note that among them is the recommendation to “Establish Coral Reef Protection Areas (CRPA’s) inside BNP where lobstering would be prohibited.” Such open-ended recommendations could easily lead to unwarranted restrictions on diving in general, and the two-day lobster mini season specifically.  If these CRPA rules are adopted, divers will not be allowed to take lobster, but fishing will continue uninterrupted. This meeting on December 12 will be the last opportunity for divers to have input as it is FWC practice for Draft Rules to be implemented as is, and there is no legal challenge available following adoption.

DEMA strongly urges divers and diving professionals to attend the FWC Public Meeting scheduled for December 12 in Panama City to voice that diving restrictions are not warranted, and restrictions to spearfishing and the lobster mini-season should only be enacted if similar restrictions are placed on hook and line fishing. IF DIVERS DO NOT ATTEND THIS MEETING, FWC WILL ASSUME THAT THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THESE RESTRICTIONS.  PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL DIVERS AND YOUR DIVING CUSTOMERS TO ATTEND!

If you are unable to attend the December 12 FWC meeting, write directly to the Fish and Wildlife Commission BEFORE DECEMBER 12 and ask them to remove these unnecessary restrictions on vital diving activities in the Park. Send your written comments directly to: Marine@MyFWC.com and Commissioners@MyFWC.com.

DEMA has already provided a letter to FWC outlining our concerns. Please feel free to use DEMA's comments to assist in writing your own to the Commission

According to NOAA, the existing FKNMS Sanctuary regulations, marine zones, and management plan activities designed and implemented in the mid-1990s are no longer sufficient to ensure long-term resource protection and ecosystem function integrity into the future.

DEMA has been a supporter of the National Marine Sanctuaries since the 1990s and was heavily involved with the creation of FKNMS. DEMA has supported the reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, testifying before congress in support of the Act and the need to permit access by non-consumptive activities such as recreational diving, reminding government and management that recreational divers, more than anyone else, see first-hand the conditions of reefs, and that diving is not an inherently “extractive” activity that depletes resources such as coral or reef fish.

Since the 1990s, DEMA has been the recreational diving community’s voice for the Sanctuary Programs and is now seeking your help in continuing to express the need to protect these valuable natural assets while maintaining diver access to the Sanctuary areas.

Please provide comments on the proposed Sanctuary changes by going to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. Use docket number NOAA-NOS-2019-0094.

For those local to the Florida Keys and South Florida, the sanctuary will hold its final public meeting and accept oral comments on December 10:

Islander Resort
82100 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, Florida

Florida’s 160 legislators, the Governor and his staff, and hundreds of Florida visitors will be at the Capitol during the day. DEMA has reserved the courtyard and first floor of the Capitol building to give DEMA Members and Florida-based dive businesses an opportunity to showcase Florida’s recreational diving operators. 

In addition to displaying products and services, DEMA is asking the members of our Industry to meet with legislators to discuss issues relevant to the Florida diving industry. For those interested in bringing attention to issues critical to the Industry in Florida, on request, DEMA will arrange a time for you to meet with your state Senator or Representative and provide you with information that will help you discuss these important topics. You can take advantage of this opportunity and participate with DEMA’s Public Policy efforts in Florida, by calling Emily Bolde at (850) 201-5224 or by email at ebolde@lawfla.com. Meeting YOUR Representative or Senator can focus attention on a variety of issues that affect the scuba diving industry, such as shark finning, the future of the goliath grouper, spiny lobster, environmental issues, and others. DEMA will also distribute relevant information to legislators (and Capitol visitors) which include the size of the diving industry in Florida and its importance in jobs, tourism, and the economy with a focus on the economic benefit of Florida dive businesses and the protection of sharks and their vital role in the marine ecosystem. 

This year’s Dive in Day at the Capitol will be Tuesday January 21st, 2020. 

If you are interested in exhibiting, we suggest you bring simple and inexpensive table-top displays that include brochures, videos, product information, handouts and other materials to attract interest from the public and lawmakers. EXHIBIT SPACE IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING IS FREE but is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

SPACE IS LIMITED! 
PLEASE RSVP BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JANUARY 1, 2020. 

To RSVP or for more information about Dive in Day at the Capitol, please contact Emily Bolde, at ebolde@lawfla.com or (850) 201-5224 (office). We look forward to seeing you there! 

To date, FWC’s recommendations for Biscayne National Park have included prohibiting spear fishing on scuba or prohibiting trigger devices, and eliminating the two-day mini-lobster season in the Park.  FWC introduced these two diving-related regulations as part of their Fisheries Management Plan for BNP. 

The latest FWC staff recommendations include ALLOWING HOOK AND LINE FISHING while CLOSING THE LOBSTER MINI SEASON in some areas of BNP (page 11), and CLOSING SPEAR FISHING to anyone using scuba or other air delivery devices (page 13).  

IMPORTANTLY, FWC HAS INCLUDED NO DATA IN THEIR PUBLISHED PLAN TO CORROBORATE THE NEED FOR RESTRICTING EITHER SPEAR FISHING OR THE TWO-DAY MINI-LOBSTER SEASON.

UNLIKE FOR DIVING, FWC HAS NO SPECIAL PLANS TO RESTRICT HOOK AND LINE FISHING ACTIVITIES.  DEMA believes FWC sees this as an opportunity to target and restrict diving activities, while placing the burden on divers for reaching FWC’s goal of increasing the size and abundance of fishery species in the Park by 20%.  Within their own presentation, FWC clearly states that the issues of management of the Park are related to (a) the Park’s proximity to urban areas, (b) reduced water quality, (c) marine debris, (d) vessel groundings and (e) fishing pressure.  Fish size and species abundance in Biscayne National Park are not related to diving activities.

DEMA STRONGLY URGES YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS TO ATTEND ONE OR MORE OF THREE WORKSHOPS being hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC).

Please attend one of these workshops in person to ensure that Fish and Wildlife Commission Staff receive your input on these proposed fisheries regulations.  Voice your concerns that diving restrictions are not warranted, and restrictions to spearfishing and the lobster mini season should only be enacted if similar restrictions are placed on hook and line fishing.  IF DIVERS DO NOT ATTEND THESE MEETINGS, FWC WILL ASSUME THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THESE RESTRICTIONS.  PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL DIVERS & YOUR DIVING CUSTOMERS TO ATTEND!

Workshops are being held at the following locations.  All workshops begin at 6:00 PM.

October 28: Murray Nelson Government Center
102050 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL 33037

 October 29: UF/IFAS Extension Miami‐Dade County
18710 SW 288th Street
Homestead, FL 33030

 October 30: James L. Knight Center
400 SE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33131

IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND AN IN‐PERSON WORKSHOP, PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS ONLINE BY VISITING WWW.MYFWC.COM/SALTWATERCOMMENTS OR EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO FWC AT MARINE@FWC.COM.

DEMA has already provided a letter to FWC outlining our concerns. Please feel free to use DEMA's comments to assist in writing your own to the Commission.

According to NOAA, the existing FKNMS Sanctuary regulations, marine zones, and management plan activities designed and implemented in the mid-1990s are no longer sufficient to ensure long-term resource protection and ecosystem function integrity into the future.

DEMA has been a supporter of the National Marine Sanctuaries since the 1990s and was heavily involved with the creation of FKNMS.  DEMA has supported the reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, testifying before congress in support of the Act and the need to permit access by non-consumptive activities such as recreational diving, reminding government and management that recreational divers, more than anyone else, see first-hand the conditions of reefs, and that diving is not an inherently “extractive” activity that depletes resources such as coral or reef fish.

Since the 1990s DEMA has been the recreational diving community’s voice for the Sanctuary Programs and is now seeking your help in continuing to express the need to protect these valuable natural assets while maintaining diver access to the Sanctuary areas. 

For those local to the Florida Keys and South Florida, this fall the sanctuary will be holding a series of public meetings and accepting oral comments. Locations and times can be found here.

Please send your written comments on the proposed Sanctuary changes directly to DEMA by emailing publicpolicy@dema.org.  In addition to DEMA issuing comments directly to NOAA, DEMA will compile comments your and provide them directly to the NOAA Sanctuary Office to ensure that divers and dive professionals have a voice in seeking conservation of these natural resources while maintaining diver access to them.  

To date, FWC’s recommendations for Biscayne National Park have included prohibiting spear fishing on scuba or prohibiting trigger devices, and eliminating the two-day mini-lobster season in the Park.  FWC introduced these two diving-related regulations as part of their Fisheries Management Plan for BNP. 

IMPORTANTLY, FWC HAS NO DATA TO CORROBORATE THEIR PLAN FOR RESTRICTING EITHER SPEAR FISHING OR THE TWO-DAY MINI-LOBSTER SEASON.

UNLIKE FOR DIVING, FWC HAS NO SPECIAL PLANS TO RESTRICT HOOK AND LINE FISHING ACTIVITIES.  DEMA believes FWC sees this as an opportunity to target and restrict diving activities, while placing the burden on divers for reaching FWC’s goal of increasing the size and abundance of fishery species in the Park by 20%.  Within their own presentation, FWC clearly states that the issues of management of the Park are related to (a) the Park’s proximity to urban areas, (b) reduced water quality, (c) marine debris, (d) vessel groundings and (e) fishing pressure.  Fish size and species abundance in Biscayne National Park are not related to diving activities, and certainly not to selective activities such as spear fishing. 

DEMA strongly urges divers and diving professionals to attend the FWC Public Meeting scheduled for October 2^nd in Cape Canaveral and voice that diving restrictions are not warranted, and restrictions to spearfishing and the lobster mini-season should only be enacted if similar restrictions are placed on hook and line fishing.  IF DIVERS DO NOT ATTEND THIS MEETING FWC WILL ASSUME THAT THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THESE RESTRICTIONS.  PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL DIVERS AND YOUR DIVING CUSTOMERS TO ATTEND!

If you are unable to attend the October 2^nd FWC meeting, write directly to the Fish and Wildlife Commission BEFORE OCTOBER 2nd and ask them to remove these unnecessary restrictions on vital diving activities in the Park.  Send your written comments directly to: Marine@MyFWC.com and Commissioners@MyFWC.com.

DEMA has already provided a letter to FWC outlining our concerns.  Please feel free to use DEMA's comments to assist in writing your own to the Commission.

SUMMARY: 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proposing a Fisheries Management Plan for Biscayne National Park in South Florida. The FWC plan continues to permit hook and line and commercial fishing, and trapping lobsters in the Park, while prohibiting divers from spear fishing and eliminating the two-day lobster mini-season for divers.

TAKE ACTION:
We ask you for your support by attending one of the public workshops being held in August listed below and expressing opposition. Anyone who is unable to participate in the meetings scheduled in August may submit comments in writing to Commissioners@MyFWC.com.  

You may be aware that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proposing a Fisheries Management Plan for Biscayne National Park in South Florida. On July 18, FWC staff introduced two recommended diving-related regulations as part of their proposed Plan; under this plan FWC recommended that spear fishing and the two-day lobster mini-season be eliminated in the Park.  

IMPORTANTLY, FWC HAS NO DATA WITHIN THEIR 2019 PLAN TO CORROBORATE THE NEED FOR RESTRICTING EITHER SPEAR FISHING OR THE TWO-DAY LOBSTER MINI-SEASON. 

Most troubling, the FWC plan continues to permit hook and line and commercial fishing, and trapping lobsters in the Park, while prohibiting divers from spear fishing and eliminating the two-day lobster mini-season for divers.

FWC will hold three public "workshops" in early August to obtain public input on this issue. It is critical that diving professionals and divers attend these meetings to provide comments to FWC in favor of allowing these activities to continue in Biscayne National Park. The meetings are being held over the following dates and in the locations listed below (all meetings begin at 6:00 PM):

• August 6: Coral Gables, Newman Alumni Center, University of Miami, 6200 San Amaro Drive.
• August 7: Florida City, City Hall, 404 W. Palm Drive.
• August 8: Key Largo, Murray E. Nelson Government Center, 102050 Overseas Highway.

If divers do not appear at these hearings in opposition to this effort, FWC will assume there is no opposition to their ideas of restricting traditional scuba diving activities.  

DEMA has provided written comments to FWC regarding their Fisheries Management Plan and the elimination of spear fishing and the lobster mini-season. Comments can be found here.

Please plan to attend one of the Public Workshops in August. Anyone who is unable to participate in the meetings scheduled in August may submit comments in writing to Commissioners@MyFWC.com. 

SUMMARY: 
The proposed federal budget could have a major impact on the U.S. travel and tourism industry by proposing to eliminate the U.S.'s investment in Brand USA. As a member of the Recreational Diving Industry, which depends in part on travel and tourism to destinations around the United States, we ask you for your support in helping to protect Brand USA.

TAKE ACTION:
We ask you for your support in helping to protect Brand USA. Act now and make your voice hear by emailing your Senators and Representatives, urging them to support Brand USA in their final budget. You can easily do so by clicking here.  

As you may be aware, the proposed federal budget could have a major impact on the U.S. travel and tourism industry by proposing to eliminate the U.S.'s investment in Brand USA, the destination marketing organization that helps drive international travel to the United States, with the goal of increasing economic growth.

Brand USA is the destination marketing organization for the United States with the mission of increasing incremental international visitation, spend, and market share to fuel the nation's economy and enhance the image of the USA worldwide. According to Brand USA, in the past three years alone, Brand USA has "welcome[d] more than 3 million incremental international visitors to the USA, benefiting the U.S. economy with more than $21 billion in business sales, and supporting, on average, nearly 50,000 incremental jobs a year." (Source)

As a U.S.-based member of the Recreational Diving Industry, which depends in part on travel and tourism to destinations around the United States, we ask you for your support in helping to protect Brand USA. Act now and make your voice heard by emailing your Senators and Representatives, urging them to support Brand USA in their final budget. You can easily do so by clicking here.  When you complete the campaign form, your comments will be sent directly to your representative.

California’s 2016/2017 Spiny Lobster Season begins on October 1, 2016.

The video PSA is available in English and Spanish, as well as in 30-second and 15-second formats.  All four versions of the PSA can be viewed online here. In addition to the video PSAs, DEMA’s California Spiny Lobster Season printable visual aid is available to be viewed, shared and downloaded to encourage safe diving. DEMA Members are asked to print the California Spiny Lobster Season visual aid and display it in the store, distribute it to their customers, and share it electronically, along with the video PSAs, with their own online community. The video PSA and printable visual aids will also be promoted via the DEMA and Go Dive Now social media pages to encourage divers to refresh their training and maintain their equipment prior to start of the season.

Complete information and regulations for the 2016/2017 California Spiny Lobster Season are available on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.

With the 2016 Florida Lobster Mini-Season happening this month, DEMA has updated their Lobster Mini-Season poster and is circulating a 30-second Public Service Announcement in an effort to increase diver safety.  Both the poster and PSA remind divers to be prepared for the upcoming mini-season. DEMA Members are encouraged to print the Lobster mini-season poster and to display it in the store, distribute it to their customers, and share it electronically, along with the video PSA, with their own online community. Both the poster and PSA are part of DEMA’s ongoing campaign to encourage divers to refresh their training and maintain their equipment prior to getting back in the water.   

“We ask the Industry for their support in circulating this PSA and poster in preparation of the two-day Florida Lobster mini-season. Together, we can encourage divers to start preparing for the annual Lobster hunt in advance and be well prepared to adhere to necessary safety measures when hunting for lobsters, including diving with a buddy,” commented Tom Ingram, President & CEO of DEMA. “With increased awareness of the recommended safety procedures, we hope to keep diving safe for everyone during this 2016 mini-season.”

The 30-second PSA was produced by DEMA in partnership with Divers Alert Network and specifically timed for the two-day Florida Lobster mini-season opening on July 27 and ending July 28. It was created to encourage divers to visit their local dive center to update their dive equipment and refresh their dive skills ahead of the two-day mini-season.

In addition to being made available to the Industry for download and sharing, the poster and PSA will be promoted as a social media campaign via DEMA and Go Dive Now’s social media pages prior to and during the Lobster Mini-Season. The poster is now available to be viewed, shared and downloaded and the PSA can be viewed and shared via the Go Dive Now YouTube channel. All divers and Industry Professionals are encouraged to share the PSA with their social media friends and followers and their local diving community to spread this important message. 

Tips for Preparing for Florida Lobster Mini-Season ____________________________________________________________
Poster		PSA:  30 Second Version
Printable files:  PDF  |  JPEG

Your comments on a Proposed Ban on Spearfishing in Southeast Florida While Using Scuba are URGENTLY NEEDED.

DEMA requests all members of the Florida diving community submit written comments to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection BEFORE FEBRUARY 16, 2016 on a proposed ban on spear fishing while using scuba in the SE Florida counties of Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin.

DEMA is concerned that this ban is being proposed WITHOUT scientific data that indicate such a ban is warranted.  Further, DEMA is concerned that these proposed restrictions are aimed solely at DIVING, and EXCLUDE RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHING, both of which have a much greater impact on fish populations than spearfishing while on scuba.

DEMA FAVORS CONSERVATION REGULATIONS WHICH IMPACT ALL SECTORS

WHEN SCIENCE INDICATES SUCH REGULATIONS ARE WARRANTED.

It is important to note that DEMA supports conservation of fish species when scientific research indicates the need to do so.  However, we also believe that when science calls for such harvest restrictions, ALL means of harvest should be subject to those restrictions, including recreational fishing and commercial fishing.  This proposed ban is focused SOLELY on spear fishing while using scuba, and excludes any mention of limitations on hook-and-line recreational fishing or commercial fishing.

THE FOLLOWING ARE DEMA’S CONCERNS WITH THESE RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:

1.      THIS ACTION IS BEING PROPOSED WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC DATA TO SUPPORT SUCH A BAN.  Although the Recommended Management Action  (RMA) cites many publications to support its proposal for banning spearfishing on scuba, the RMA also acknowledges that there are “Information Gaps.”  Specifically the RMA states that, “The relative number of fish taken by spear versus angling is unknown, as is the total magnitude of fish taken by spear.  It is a cryptic fishery.”

2.      ANY BAN ON SPEAR FISHING MUST ALSO INCLUDE SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING.  Florida already has many fishing regulations in place which regulate seasonality as well as size and quantity limits, which appropriately impact all forms of fishing; commercial fishing, recreational fishing AND spearfishing.  Absent ANY DATA that specifically points to spearfishing as having a greater impact on supposedly “highly targeted species,” DEMA contends that these current limits and laws are adequate to prevent any “targeting of commercially valuable and ecologically important ‘trophy’ fish.”  Further, if additional regulations are needed for spearfishing on scuba, surely these same restrictions are warranted for ALL forms of extraction, including commercial fishing and hook-and-line recreational fishing.

FOR THE REASONS STATED, DEMA OPPOSES THIS PROPOSED BAN.  Should such a ban be enacted, there is significant risk that similar bans could be proposed in other Florida counties.  It is therefore important for ALL Florida dive businesses to participate in this comment period.

Our Florida Reefs will hold a series of community meetings around South Florida between now and February 17 to discuss this and other proposed regulations.  DEMA urges members of the diving community to attend these meetings and voice your opposition to this proposed ban, which unfairly singles out the diving community.  Two meetings will be held on each of the scheduled days, the first from noon to 2 p.m. and the second from 6 to 8 p.m. Meetings are being held in Broward, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Delray, and Fort Lauderdale. 

DEMA STRONGLY URGES ALL FLORIDA DIVERS AND ALL FLORIDA DIVE PROFESSIONALS TO SUBMIT THEIR WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THIS PROPOSED BAN HERE. Written comments will carry more weight than comments made during the scheduled meetings. 

Your written comments should include:

·        Your business location.

·        The amount of revenue generated by this activity and the losses if this ban is put into place.

·        Emphasis about the lack of data to support such a highly focused ban on this activity.

·        Concerns about singling out spear fishing on scuba without consideration for similar limitations being placed on commercial and recreational fishing.

Finally, OFR is also proposing many other actions that will impact the diving business in Florida.  With these additional proposals already under consideration, please be prepared to comment on them in writing and during face-to-face meetings.  For example, a proposal is being made to change the limits on the number of lobster taken during Florida lobster mini-season.  In this instance, be prepared to provide comments on the number of divers coming to your business to participate in this activity.

With the 2015 Florida Lobster Mini-Season just  one month away, DEMA has updated their Lobster Mini-Season poster and is circulating a 30-second PSA in an effort to increase diver safety.  Both the poster and PSA remind divers to be prepared for the upcoming mini-season. DEMA Members are encouraged to print the Lobster Mini-Season poster and to display it in the store, distribute it to their customers, and share it electronically with their own online community. Both the poster and PSA are part of DEMA’s ongoing campaign to encourage divers to refresh their training and maintain their equipment prior to getting back in the water.   

“By circulating this PSA and poster before the two-day lobster mini-season opens , we hope divers will start preparing for Florida’s annual Lobster hunt and be reminded to adhere to necessary safety measures when hunting for lobsters, including diving with a buddy,” commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “With increased awareness of the recommended safety procedures, we hope to keep diving safe for everyone during this 2015 mini-season.”

The 30-second PSA was produced by DEMA in partnership with Divers Alert Network and specifically timed for the two-day Florida Lobster mini-season opening on July 29 and ending July 30. It was created to encourage divers to visit their local dive center to update their dive equipment and refresh and advance their dive training.

In addition to being made available to the Industry for download and sharing, the poster and PSA will be promoted as a social media campaign via DEMA, Be A Diver, and DiveCaching Twitter & Facebook pages prior to and during the Lobster Mini-Season, as well as on social media sites of affiliated organizations. The poster is now available to be viewed, shared and downloaded and the PSA can be viewed and shared via the Be A Diver YouTube channel. All divers and Industry Professionals are encouraged to share the PSA with their social media friends and followers and their local diving community to spread this important message. 

Poster		PSA:  30 Second Version
Printable files:  PDF  |  JPEG

In particular, and on behalf of Dr. Robert Neyland, Head of the Naval History and Heritage Command, DEMA received a letter from Dr. J.B. Thomas, assuring DEMA and its Members that recreational divers diving in or near sunken military vessels were not the focus of the regulations.  The entirety of the Navy's response can be accessed here.  To summarize, the Navy advised DEMA:
 

1. Diving on former Navy and ex-military vessels such as the Oriskany, Vandenberg, Radford, Spiegel Grove, etc., purposefully sunk to establish artificial reefs, is not an activity covered by the regulations because title to these vessels was expressly divested.  There are regulations that might apply from NOAA FKNMA, and at some time in the future the DoN and NOAA-FKNMA will be entering into a Memorandum of Understanding on their respective roles.  We will continue to monitor this process as it develops. 
    
2. Diving near and around sunken military craft is not prohibited.  A permit would be required only if the diver intended to disturb, remove, or injure a sunken military craft or terrestrial military craft.  Only intentional or negligent actions that disturb the craft would be considered as violations of the Act.  We expect that at some time in the future additional regulations or clarifications will be published to effectuate the DoN position on this issue.