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Current Actions
The FWC has three active listing actions in process
for the peregrine falcon, the Florida manatee, and the Panama City
crayfish. At the December 2007 meeting, Commissioners
asked FWC staff to review the current imperiled species listing
process and provide ideas on how to overcome the polarization
created by the process and how to improve the process itself.
No new petitions will be accepted or evaluated for potential listing
during this time. The Commission also deferred listing
actions for the Panama City crayfish, and asked staff to continue to
work with stakeholders on the listing actions for the bald eagle and
peregrine falcon.
Staff
ideas and
thoughts on the listing process and imperiled species management
system were presented to the Commission at the June 2008 meeting.
The Commission directed staff to pursue the ideas with stakeholders,
provide interim updates, and bring a recommendation to the June 2009
meeting.
For the peregrine falcon Phase I of the listing
process, a biological
status review, has been completed. Commissioners agreed
with staff recommendation that the species be de-listed. The
Commission agreed that removing the peregrine falcon from Florida’s
imperiled species list is warranted, and directed staff to proceed
with developing a management plan. Staff plans to finalize the
plan by June 2009 for consideration by the Commissioners who will
also decide at that time whether or not to take action to delist the
species. Prior to beginning work on the management plan,
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is
asking for comments and information from the public about the
conservation needs of the peregrine falcon and any economic and
social factors that should be considered in managing the species in
Florida. Comments should be sent to: Peregrine Falcon
Management Plan Comments, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Northeast Region, 1239 SW 10th St., Ocala, FL
34471-0323, or e-mailed to
peregrine@MyFWC.com by 5
p.m., Aug. 12.
The Florida manatee management plan was approved at
the Dec. 2007 Commission meeting; however, reclassification of the
manatee to a threatened species was deferred while staff reviews
FWC’s imperiled species listing system.
Finalization of the Panama City crayfish plan has
been deferred while staff reviews the imperiled species listing
system.
The Gopher Tortoise management plan was approved at
the Sept. 2007 Commission meeting as were the rules reclassifying
the gopher tortoise from Species of Special Concern to Threatened
status. Staff and partners are now implementing the gopher
tortoise management plan.
The Bald Eagle management plan was approved at the
April 2008 Commission meeting as were the rules de-listing the bald
eagle and a new rule to protect bald eagles. Staff and
partners are now implementing the bald eagle management plan.
Other Resources
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