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Committee advances package of marine bills after extensive testimony on aquarium trade and fishing methods
Summary
Committee moved several marine‑resource bills forward with amendments and referrals after extensive testimony. DAR supported increased fines for aquarium trade but warned of enforcement and judicial capacity issues; many community and conservation groups called for a statewide ban and stronger enforcement.
A cluster of bills addressing aquarium collection, fishing methods and marine protected area management received hours of testimony and were advanced by the committee with a mix of amendments, referrals and narrowed scopes.
DAR testified it supports higher monetary penalties for illegal aquarium collection but cautioned that elevating offenses from petty misdemeanor to misdemeanor could create judicial bottlenecks and lengthen prosecutions; the division described ongoing chapter‑91 rulemaking that would limit permitted collectors to a small number of…
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