Closed seasons and closed areas protect a species during spawning, especially when fish return yearly for spawning at known locations. Minimum and maximum sizes, or "slot," limits protect sexually immature fish and may be imposed to create a "trophy" fishery, i.e., a fishery that produces extremely large individuals. Aggregate bag limits are sometimes applied collectively to a complex of species such as grunts and snappers, so that the community is not overfished. Bag limits reduce the number of fish that are harvested and allocate the catch over time so that the year's total harvest is not taken in one season.
These measures include bag limits, minimum and maximum sizes, closed seasons and areas, and in some cases, no harvest is allowed unless a special permit is purchased. Managers of Florida's fisheries use a combination of traditional regulations to control harvests and protect fish stocks.
Because increased exploitation could negatively impact Florida fisheries, scientists and managers must remain diligent and innovative in their efforts to utilize fishery resources wisely and conservatively. Fishing is a favorite pastime of Florida's residents and visitors, and in 1997, saltwater anglers made about 24 million fishing trips and caught 141 million marine fishes, 71.5 million of which were released. More than 40 million tourists visit the state annually, most with coastal destinations.
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