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FWC concludes meeting at Sandestin
February 8, 2007
Contacts: (inland issues) Henry Cabbage (850) 488-8843
(marine issues) Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) adopted new rules to sharpen regulation of
captive wildlife during its Feb. 7-8 meeting at Sandestin. Rule
changes address importation, possession, caging, tagging and
transportation requirements for various species, including
potentially dangerous animals.
In addition, the FWC waded through an array of
changes to wildlife management area rules. New rules allow for
emergency closures – needed to cope with natural disasters,
negotiating contracts to provide additional services to the
public on lands managed by the FWC, regulating vehicle use,
setting harvest regulations and other matters.
In other business, Commissioners approved
regulations for the new Largo Central Park Nature Preserve Fish
Management Area and updates to guidelines for the Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute Grants Program, the Florida State
Wildlife Grants Program and the Nongame Wildlife Grants Program.
Commissioners also heard an update on completion
of the Florida Bass Conservation Center and reviewed and
discussed the proposed 2007-08 work plan for the FWC’s Division
of Habitat and Species Conservation.
During Thursday’s (Feb. 8) session,
Commissioners took action on several marine fisheries issues,
beginning with a final public hearing on a proposed rule to
require persons recovering monofilament netting in Florida
waters to notify FWC law enforcement prior to recovering the
netting and to have an FWC officer present to supervise recovery
and disposal of the material.
The Commission proposed a draft rule to allow
harvest of commercial sponges by diving in Florida Panhandle
waters and require that all sponges harvested by diving be cut
rather than pulled from their base. A final public hearing on
this proposed rule will take place at the next FWC meeting in
April.
Commissioners also approved a series of draft
rule changes for recreational and commercial harvest of snowy
grouper, golden tilefish, vermilion snapper, red porgy and black
sea bass in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and for the
harvest of vermilion snapper and red snapper in state waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. These proposed rules would be consistent
with recently approved regulations in federal waters. A final
hearing on these rules is scheduled for the April Commission
meeting.
Another proposed rule would prohibit possession
of all recreational reef fish species on commercial trips. A
final public hearing on these proposed reef fish rules will take
place during the April FWC meeting.
Commissioners also directed staff to continue to
develop management options for red drum (redfish) to achieve a
40-percent escapement goal for spawning fish. Possible
management options include changing the slot limit, implementing
a closed season, managing by regions and establishing a trophy
tag. The FWC will consider a draft rule for red drum at its June
meeting in Melbourne, and new regulations probably won’t take
effect until 2008.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission
directed staff to continue to gather public input on ways to
reduce the harvest of snook to sustain and improve the fishery.
Commissioners will consider a draft rule in April that could
include a change in the snook slot limit, lowering the daily bag
limit on the east coast from two snook to one, and adjusting
seasons.
The FWC also heard a report on the FWC saltwater
fish hatchery, considered various federal marine fisheries
management issues and heard a report on the future of saltwater
fishing in Florida.
The next FWC meeting is set for April 11-12 in
Tallahassee. |
