Commission meeting news : 

News Release

FWC concludes 2-day meeting in Tallahassee

April 17, 2009
Contacts: (inland issues) Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130
(marine issues) Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

• Agenda (with links to background reports)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wrapped up its two-day session Thursday, April 16, in Tallahassee. During the meeting at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, Commissioners dealt with a variety of issues.

The FWC reviewed draft rules for the take of freshwater turtles on the first day of the meeting. After discussing and hearing public comments, the Commission directed staff to finalize the draft rule for banning the commercial take of freshwater turtles. The final rule will be considered during a meeting in June in Crystal River. If the rule is approved in June, it will be the strongest conservation measure for freshwater turtles in the United States.

The Commission approved new language regarding establishment and operation of game farms. The final public hearing on game farms will be held at the June meeting.

The success of peregrine falcon numbers in recent years was discussed by the Commission when staff presented the draft peregrine falcon management plan. The Commission directed staff to finalize the management plan for peregrine falcons and bring back a rule to delist the species at the June Commission meeting.

The FWC revised permitting guidelines for gopher tortoises, which include revisions to how some mitigation contributions are calculated, "10 or Fewer Burrows" permit-specific criteria and guidance, a 5-year permit option and updated gopher tortoise surveying requirements.   

The Commission also voted to establish two new hunting areas, in Central and Southwest Florida at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Area and the Babcock Ranch Preserve. The Commission also set hunting dates and restrictions on the two areas.

In marine fisheries action, the Commission approved a rule that establishes administrative penalties for blue crab management program violations.  This rule will take effect on July 1.

The FWC also proposed changing the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters because new data indicate this year's Gulf red snapper fishing season needs to be shortened to compensate for overharvests in 2008.  The Commission will hold a final public hearing in June on a proposed rule to reduce the season from June 1 - Sept. 30 to June 1 - Aug. 14, which is consistent with a pending federal regulation.

Commissioners also proposed new rules for grouper that would be generally consistent with anticipated federal regulations intended to help reduce fishing pressure so that grouper fishing in the Gulf can improve in the future.

These proposed rules would decrease the daily recreational aggregate bag limit for grouper from five fish to four fish per person in Gulf state waters.  They would also establish a Feb. 1 - March 31 closed spawning season for all recreational and commercial harvest of shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) in Gulf state waters.  This proposed two-month closure would extend a current one-month commercial closed season for red, gag and black grouper in Gulf state waters.

The proposed grouper rules also would reduce the commercial minimum-size limit for Gulf red grouper, and for all importation and sale of red grouper, from 20 inches to 18 inches total length.  A final public hearing on the FWC's proposed Gulf grouper rules will take place in June.

Commissioners also approved a resolution to request that Gov. Charlie Crist ask the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to provide disaster relief to Florida's Gulf commercial reef fish longline industry and related seafood dealers.  This action is needed because a pending federal emergency rule to protect sea turtles will effectively close down the use of longline fishing gear to catch reef fish in the Gulf.

Federal disaster relief would give the longline industry time to adjust to the closure so the industry and related seafood dealers can stay in business and continue to supply fresh grouper for consumers.

The Commission also reviewed and discussed Florida's permit fishery and directed staff to schedule public workshops and gather more information regarding this fishery.  And, they provided directions to staff regarding various federal marine fisheries management issues.

In addition, the Commission granted an easement to Punta Gorda officials for installation of a 1,500-foot wastewater line across the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area.

The next FWC meeting will be June 17-18 at Crystal River.