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News Release

FWC airs hunting, fishing and python-removal rule proposals

September 11, 2009
Contacts: (Inland issues) Henry Cabbage, 850-488-8843;
(Marine issues) Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

• Agenda (with links to background reports)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wrapped up a three-day meeting Friday at Howey-in-the-Hills.

Wednesday's agenda focused on inland issues, including discussion of a proposed rule that authorizes the take of peregrine falcons for the sport of falconry. Commissioners directed FWC staff to proceed with finalizing a rule to allow it and bring it back for final action at the Commission's December meeting. Federal regulations would limit the program to five or fewer peregrines for falconry per year in Florida.

Another proposed rule to come up for final approval in December would solidify an existing executive order allowing licensed hunters to kill nonnative reptiles of concern in select South Florida wildlife management areas. As part of an overall review of existing regulatory measures for reptiles of concern, the Commission reviewed proposed legislation from Sen. Lee Constantine (R-Altamonte Springs) and others to enhance the FWC's efforts to regulate captive wildlife in Florida. The Commission directed staff to look into a wide range of options in dealing with reptiles of concern and other nonnative species.

Also, Commissioners approved conceptual changes to deer hunting zones and seasons. FWC biologists are recommending changes to align hunting dates with the timing of breeding activity, called the "rut." The FWC will conduct two public meetings in September to review possible changes and gather additional public input. The proposal would be up for final approval in February, if Commissioners direct FWC staff to proceed with developing it. Changes would begin with the 2010-2011 hunting season.

Commissioners also discussed conceptual changes to regulations concerning hunting, fishing, management areas, nuisance wildlife and nonnative wildlife.

In addition, FWC staff presented a detailed update on the progress of revisions to the imperiled species listing process. The Commission directed staff to bring the draft rules to the December meeting for consideration.

Wednesday's session also included a review of land acquisition and management issues.

On Thursday, the Commission waded through marine fisheries issues.  Commissioners approved rules that are consistent with new federal regulations to reduce overfishing of vermilion snapper in the Atlantic Ocean and improve fishing for this species in the future.  

The new rules will ...

• decrease the recreational bag limit for vermilion snapper in Atlantic state waters from 10 fish to 5 fish daily per person,
• prohibit the captain and crew of for-hire vessels from keeping Atlantic vermilion snapper, and
•  prohibit all harvest of vermilion snapper in Atlantic state waters from Nov. 1 - March 31. 

These rules take effect on Oct. 16.

The Commission also proposed federal consistency rules to address overfishing of Atlantic grouper.

These rules would ...

• decrease the aggregate daily recreational bag limit for all Atlantic grouper in state waters from 5 fish to 3 fish per person,
• prohibit the captain and crew of for-hire vessels from retaining any species in the aggregate grouper bag limit, and
• decrease the aggregate recreational bag limit for gag and black grouper from 2 fish combined to 1 fish combined in Atlantic and Monroe County state waters.

In addition, the proposed federal consistency rules would prohibit all harvest of shallow-water groupers (including gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, grasby, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth grouper and tiger grouper) from Jan. 1 - April 30 in Atlantic state waters. 

Another proposed federal consistency rule would require dehooking tools to be aboard commercial and recreational vessels fishing for reef fish in Atlantic state waters.  Final public hearings on the proposed federal consistency rules for Atlantic grouper and dehooking tools will be held during the December FWC meeting in Clewiston.

Commissioners also proposed new rules to be compatible with an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission management plan for Atlantic coastal sharks and enhance current FWC protective measures for sharks that inhabit Florida waters.

These rules would ...

• prohibit harvest of sandbar, silky and Caribbean sharpnose sharks from state waters,
• establish a 54-inch fork length minimum size limit for all sharks except Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, finetooth and blacktip sharks and smooth dogfish,
• prohibit the removal of shark heads and tails at sea,
• allow only hook-and-line gear to harvest sharks, and
• make other technical shark rule changes. 

The Commission also directed staff to work with stakeholders and develop options to possibly add other shark species to the prohibited list, especially lemon sharks, and require the use of circle hooks to harvest sharks in state waters.  A final public hearing on these proposed rules will take place in December.

In other marine fisheries action, the Commission amended its special activities license rules, reviewed and discussed issues regarding northeast Florida weakfish and sand seatrout and Biscayne National Park's general and fishery management plans, and considered various federal fishery management issues.

Commissioners also directed staff to continue working with stakeholders to fine-tune improvements to Palm Beach County boating speed zones and heard a staff report on the agency's progress in complying with a new law that requires a pilot program to regulate the anchoring of non-live-aboard vessels outside of existing mooring fields.

Friday's session consisted of staff reports concerning the agency's finances, budget, legislative proposals and administrative matters.

The next FWC meeting will be in Clewiston, Dec. 9-10.  FWC meetings are open to the public.