Meeting Agenda

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA 

Time:          1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Dates:         Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Place:          Doubletree Hotel
                    4500 West Cypress Street
                    Tampa, FL  33607
                    Phone: 813-879-4800

THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

All persons who so desire, shall be given an opportunity to speak at a Commission workshop or meeting within the guidelines established by the Commission.  In order to ensure the public’s opportunity to be heard and the orderly conduct of the meeting, the Chairman reserves the right to establish a time for adjournment of the workshop or meeting, to limit the time for speakers, and to limit the time allotted for specific agenda items.  

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the agency at least five calendar days before the meeting by contacting Cindy Hoffman at (850)488-6411.  If hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency by calling (850)488-9542.   

Agenda Items listed under headings other than “Rules” may be moved by the Chairman to different days of the meeting to accommodate scheduling problems. 

If any person decides to challenge any decision with respect to any matter considered at the above meeting, he will need a record of the proceedings.  For this purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes testimony and evidence upon which the challenge is to be based.   

For information on lodging and restaurants within the area you may call the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau at (813)223-1111 or visit their web site at http://www.visittampabay.com/

1.       Meeting Opening   

          A.       Call to Order
          B.       Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag  

2.   Rules     

        A.   Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area

Important Notice:  On August 1, 2006, the Florida Cabinet did approve transfer of lead management authority for Tosohatchee from the Department of Environmental Protection to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  Consequently, the rules below, which were previously approved by the FWC, will be implemented and this agenda item will be withdrawn.

{Withdrawn} Note:  On June 7, 2006, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the following Tosohatchee WMA rules contingent upon the Cabinet’s (Board of Trustees) transfer of lead management authority for the area from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to FWC.  Originally, the issue of lead management authority transfer was to be scheduled for a Cabinet meeting in June but was subsequently delayed until the August 1, 2006 Cabinet meeting.  If the issue of lead management authority transfer is not considered by the Cabinet on August 1, the Tosohatchee WMA rules must be reconsidered and approved by the FWC due to time limitations established by the Administrative Procedures Act.   {Withdrawn}

                    ·  Should the Cabinet, at its August 1, 2006 meeting, approve transfer of lead management authority to FWC, the proposed rules below would be withdrawn from the August 16, 2006 FWC meeting agenda, and they would be implemented as approved by the FWC on June 7, 2006.    {Withdrawn}

                    ·  Should the Cabinet, at its August 1, 2006 meeting, disapprove transfer of lead management authority to FWC, the proposed rules below would be withdrawn from the August 16, 2006 FWC meeting agenda, and existing regulations for Tosohatchee WMA would not change.    {Withdrawn}

                    ·  Should the Cabinet not consider, at its August 1, 2006 meeting, transfer of lead management authority to FWC, the FWC will reconsider approval of the rules below at its August 16, 2006 meeting.  If approved by the FWC, adoption and implementation of the rules would continue to be contingent upon the Cabinet approving transfer of lead management authority to FWC.    {Withdrawn}

             (1)  68A-15.065, Specific Regulations for Wildlife Management Areas-Northeast Region—The proposed rule would allow tent camping at designated campsites during periods closed to hunting and would allow public access on the area from 8 AM to sunset during periods closed to hunting, unless camping at designated campsites.   {Withdrawn}

             (2)  68A-9.007, Fees—The proposed rule change would establish FWC short-term use permits and fees for the Tosohatchee WMA to provide for a management authority transition from DEP to FWC.  These fees are the same as those presently charged by DEP.  The proposed public access fees would be as follows:  $3 per vehicle for a daily-use permit for all outdoor recreational activities (including camping) other than hunting; $1 for a daily-use permit for bicyclists and pedestrians; and $50 for a daily-use permit for groups of 25 or more people.  The proposed rule would further establish that a daily-use permit would not be required for persons participating in Commission-sponsored meetings or activities; a daily-use permit would not be required for persons using the Florida Trail for recreational hiking; a daily-use permit would not be required for persons exempt from management area permit requirements by Section 372.562, F.S.; and a daily-use permit would not be required for the spouse or dependent children of persons in possession of a management area permit while traveling in the same vehicle or in the company of the permit holder.   {Withdrawn}

       B.   Blue Crab Effort Management Program 

The 2006 Legislature did not authorize fees and penalties relating to the Blue Crab Effort Management Program.  In addition, legal concerns have been raised regarding FWC’s authority over fisheries effort management programs.  In response to these issues, the Commission passed emergency rules at its June 8, 2006 meeting to continue the moratorium on issuance of new blue crab endorsements and delay the implementation of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program.  Those emergency rules will expire on September 29, 2006, and the rules below are needed to delay implementation of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program for the remainder of the 2006-07 fiscal year.  (Background Report-07/12/2006)

(1)  68B-45.004, Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear—The proposed rule would continue the moratorium on issuance of new blue crab endorsements until July 1, 2007.  

            (2)  Rule 68B-45.007, Blue Crab Limited Entry Endorsement Program—The proposed rule would delay the implementation of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program until July 1, 2007, delay the requirement of blue crab trap tags until July 1, 2007, and reset all program dates back one year.   

3.       Other Public Comment 

4.       Commission Exchange 

5.       Commission Administrative Matters 

          The next regular Commission meeting will be held September 13-15, 2006 in St. Petersburg, commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.  

6.       Adjournment