FWC Commission approves changes to maintain high-quality snorkeling and diving opportunities at Blue Heron Bridge dive site

For immediate release: Feb. 20, 2019

Media contact: Amanda Nalley, 850-404-6100 orAmanda.Nalley@MyFWC.com

Suggested Tweet: The @MyFWC Commission approves prohibiting harvest/possession of tropical aquarium species at the #BlueHeronBridge dive site; effective April 1:

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Commission approves changes to maintain high-quality snorkeling and diving opportunities at Blue Heron Bridge dive site.

At its February meeting in Gainesville, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved regulation changes that would maintain high-quality snorkeling and diving opportunities at the Blue Heron Bridge/Phil Foster County Park in Palm Beach County.

The changes, that will go into effect April 1, will be:

Prohibit the collection and possession of marine life fishery species (species collected for and managed for the tropical aquarium trade) within the park and surrounding waters (prohibitions would not apply to other fishing activities, such as hook-and-line fishing or lobstering). The changes will allow direct transit by vessel of marine life species legally harvested outside the closed area through the closed area so long as the vessel does not stop.

The changes will also allow species collected outside the closed area to be landed by motorized vessel at the Park boat ramp and docks. The Blue Heron Bridge area was named one of the 50 best dive sites in the world by PADI Sport Diver magazine and referred to as Florida’s “best shore dive” by SCUBA Diving Magazine.