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FWC reclassifies gopher tortoises;
postpones manatee vote
September 14, 2007
Contacts: (Inland issues) Henry Cabbage (850) 488-8843
or (Marine issues) Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) wrapped up an eventful three-day meeting Friday
at St. Petersburg.
During the Wednesday session, Commissioners
postponed, at least until December, approval of a new species
management plan and rule changes to reclassify manatees from
endangered to threatened. However, Commissioners approved
reclassification of gopher tortoises from species of special
concern to threatened.
The FWC also will review a draft management plan
and rule proposals to remove bald eagles from the imperiled
species list entirely. Final action on that issue may take place
during the FWC’s December meeting at Key Largo.
Commissioners also approved four rule proposals
concerning permit requirements for activities involving marine
turtles.
In addition, Commissioners heard staff reports
about the agency’s deer management program, proposed rule
changes to wildlife and freshwater fisheries regulations for
2008-09 and recommendations for the future of freshwater fishing
in Florida.
On Thursday, Commissioners approved new rules to
let licensed trap-fishers designate people to recover and
possess their traps when the governor and FWC declare an
emergency following a storm. The rules also exempt local, state
or federal officials from having to get FWC approval before
removing traps, derelict traps and trap debris from areas where
trapping is prohibited and modify the definition of a derelict
trap under a requirement that blue crab traps must be marked
with FWC trap tags.
Commissioners also approved new rules that allow
recreational fishers to use fold-up blue crab traps up to 1
cubic foot in volume – not necessarily pyramid-shaped – and
deleted a provision limiting the base panel of fold-up traps to
1 square foot. The trap recovery and recreational trap rules
take effect in mid-October.
The Commission also proposed several rules for
red snapper harvested in Gulf of Mexico state waters to make
them consistent with pending permanent rules for red snapper in
federal waters and replace interim federal rules.
These measures would reduce the daily
recreational bag limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish
per person, establish a zero daily bag limit for captains and
crew of Gulf for-hire vessels, and shorten the recreational
fishing season for Gulf red snapper to 107, 122 or 154 days –
depending on the outcome of the pending federal rules.
In addition, these proposed rule changes would
reduce the minimum size of commercially harvested red snapper in
the Gulf and the minimum size of imported red snapper from 15 to
13 inches total length and reduce the daily commercial bag and
trip limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish per day.
Proposals also would allow only non-stainless steel circle hooks
to harvest any reef fish when natural baits are used and require
a venting tool and a de-hooking device to be present onboard
vessels harvesting any reef fish.
A final public hearing on these proposed rule
changes for Gulf red snapper will be held during the
Commission’s February meeting in Panama City.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission
directed staff to renew the existing memorandum of understanding
with the National Park Service regarding the management of
marine fisheries in Biscayne National Park and work with park
officials and stakeholders to modify certain provisions of the
agreement.
The Commission also considered various federal
marine fisheries management issues and received the final vision
document for the future of saltwater fishing in Florida.
Other matters on Thursday’s agenda included
boating regulations on or adjacent to the Withlacoochee River in
Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties during flooding;
requirements for possession and exhibition of dangerous animals;
and regulation changes that make FWC’s due process provisions
more accessible to the public.
Friday’s session focused on the FWC’s financial
and legislative matters and issues to discuss with stakeholders
for the 2009 legislative session.
The complete agenda and background materials are
available at
MyFWC.com/commission.
The next FWC meeting will take place Dec. 5-6 at
Key Largo. |
