Florida League of Women Voters
Background Information
1994 Constitutional Amendments
Amendment 3, Florida Constitution
Limiting marine net fishing
Limits the use of nets for catching saltwater finfish, shellfish or other marine animals by prohibiting the use of gill and other entangling nets in all Florida waters, and prohibiting the use of other nets larger than 500 square feet in mesh area in nearshore and inshore Florida waters. Provides definitions, administrative and criminal penalties, and exceptions for scientific and governmental purposes.
Your choice will be YES to approve this amendment or NO to reject it.
The League issued a PRO/CON list only.
PRO:
- Will stop the loss of great numbers of fish in Florida waters, leading to the collapse, in some cases, of entire species and will lessen inadvertent killing of juvenile fish.
- Will not result in increased seafood prices, because at least 80% of fish consumed in Florida is imported. Popular local species such as grouper, snapper, amber jack and mackerel are caught with hook and line and would not be affected.
- Loss of jobs will be minimal--the industry is self-destructing anyway because of overfishing.
- Has increased fishery populations in other coastal states that have banned gill nets; Texas and Georgia through legislation, California by constitutional amendment.
CON:
- Will not stop the loss of fish due to over-development, pollution, dredging of our bays and inland waters, loss of sea grasses and other natural habitat of fish.
- The loss of juvenile fish is also due to the loss of habitat, and not over-fishing. Most juvenile fish can swim through the gill nets, or are brought up alive and quickly returned to the water.
- Disadvantages low-income persons through loss of a large quantity of low-cost fish.
- Will destroy a way of life for the small, independent Florida fisherman. The large fishing operations would not be as seriously affected because they can just move off-shore. Shrimp trawlers in places like Apalachicola Bay, Charlotte Harbor, etc. will be hurt.
- This matter should be addressed through legislation. Putting these requirements in the constitution is inappropriate.
Look at: Amendment 1 (Start of regular sessions of the Legislature)
Amendment 2 (Limitation on state revenue collections)
Amendment 4 (Revenue limits)
Amendment 8 (Limited casinos)
Return to How to Use This Guide or Ballot
Source: Florida League of Women Voters
540 Beverly Court, Tallahassee, FL 32301