News Release

FWC sets Sept. 12-14 meeting in St. Petersburg

August 24, 2007
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) will meet Sept. 12-14 at the St. Petersburg Hilton. The Hilton is at 333 First St. South, and the meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m. all three days.

During the Sept. 12 (Wednesday) session, the agenda includes an overview of the FWC’s imperiled species listing process, management plans and a process for modifying management plans after Commissioners approve them. Then Commissioners will consider final approval of management plans and rules that would change the listing category of two imperiled species.

Proposals would reclassify the Florida manatee from endangered to threatened and the gopher tortoise 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 probably will take place during the FWC’s December meeting at Key Largo.

Also on Wednesday’s agenda are four rule proposals concerning permit requirements for activities involving marine turtles.

In addition, Commissioners will hear 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 will hold a final public hearing on proposed rules that would 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 would 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.

A final hearing will also be held on proposed rules that would allow recreational fishers to use fold-up blue crab traps up to 1 cubic foot in volume and not necessarily pyramid-shaped and delete a provision limiting the base panel of fold-up traps to 1 square foot.

The Commission also will consider draft rules for red snapper harvested in Gulf of Mexico state waters. These draft rules are consistent with pending permanent rules for red snapper in federal waters that will replace interim federal rules.

These measures could reduce the daily recreational bag limit of Gulf red snapper from four fish to two fish per person, establish a zero daily bag limit for captains and crew of Gulf for-hire vessels, and change the recreational fishing season for Gulf red snapper from April 15 through Oct. 31 to June 1 through Sept. 15.

In addition, these possible rule changes could 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 four fish to two fish per day.

Proposals also could allow only non-stainless steel circle hooks to be used 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.

In other marine fisheries action, Commissioners will consider various federal marine fisheries management issues and receive the final vision document for the future of saltwater fishing in Florida.

Other matters on the Thursday agenda include 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.

The Friday session will focus 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.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting should make arrangements by calling Cindy Hoffman at (850) 488-6411, at least five days in advance. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons can arrange assistance by calling (850) 488-9542.