Skip to main content
Menu

July 2023

Date: Jul 19, 2023 Time: 8:30 am
Date: Jul 20, 2023 Time: 8:30 am
Location:

Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront
333 1st Street SE
St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701

Public comments will be accepted in person during the meeting.
This meeting is open to the public
July 2023 Minutes

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) is committed to providing opportunity for public input at each Commission meeting. The Commission is offering the opportunity for stakeholders to provide their comments in advance as well as in person. Advance comments were due by 5pm on Friday, July 14th. If you would like to provide comments via mail, please send those comments to the following address:

FWC Commissioners
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

To ensure adequate time to address the business needs of the Commission, there will be no more than three (3) hours of public comment on items not on the agenda at this meeting. The designated time for public comment on items not on the agenda is scheduled at the end of day two, July 20th. The deadline for registration to speak on items not on the agenda is 9:30 am on July 20th. For items not on the agenda, the Chairman reserves the right to reduce the amount of time per speaker or the total number of speakers. To provide comments on items not on the agenda in advance, stakeholders can find contact information for staff, leadership, locations, and subjects at www.myfwc.com/contact. To contact commissioners directly, stakeholders can email commissioners@myfwc.com.

The Chairman may opt to take action on any agenda item presented, even those listed as staff reports. Agenda items may be re-ordered or moved by the Chairman to accommodate scheduling issues. To accommodate as much input as possible from those attending, the Chairman reserves the right to designate the amount of time given to an agenda item or speaker(s). The meeting may include fact-finding field trips to learn about management and enforcement activities.

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

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify the agency at least 10 calendar days before the meeting by calling 850-488-6411 or contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (Voice), if you are hearing or speech impaired. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, or if you need more information, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-488-6411. Or write to: Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

For information on the area, you may call the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce at (727) 821-4069 or visit their website at www.stpete.com.

8:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 19th

  1. Call to Order
    1. Call to Order
    2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
  2. Administrative Matters
    1. Review and Approve May 2023 Commission Meeting Minutes
    2. Approve Regular Meeting Agenda
    3. Approve Consent Agenda
      Details for all consent agenda items are listed at the end of this document. Any questions about a consent agenda item should be addressed to agency staff prior to the Commission meeting. Any item not approved as part of the consent agenda may be moved to the regular agenda or postponed at the discretion of the Chairman.
  3. Executive Director’s Report
  4. Awards and Recognition
    1. Artist Recognition
    2. Prosecutor of the Year Award
    3. Victor Heller Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year Award
    4. FWC’s Youth Hunting Program Landowner of the Year Award

BREAK

  1. Staff Report – Chronic Wasting Disease Update
    Staff will present an update on Chronic Wasting Disease in Florida including the current status and the comprehensive response plan that FWC and partners have in place. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 1 hour.
    Summary Memo | Presentation
  2. Items Requiring Action
    1. Final Rule – Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. Staff will present final rules for fishing regulations that would reduce severe entanglement of seabirds at Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 1 hour.
      Summary Memo | Presentation | 68B-5.007 | Education Course Instructions

ANTICIPATED LUNCH BREAK

    1. Proposed Final Rule – Weeki Wachee River Springs Protection Zone. Staff will present a proposed rule that will create a springs protection zone restricting beaching, mooring, anchoring, and grounding of vessels on the spring run of the Weeki Wachee River extending from the spring boil within Weeki Wachee State Park to the Rogers Park Boat Ramp. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 1 hour.
      Note: Staff is requesting Commission approval to advertise the proposed rule and file for adoption as soon as possible. If the rule is approved for final adoption, Commission staff will file the rules as allowed by s. 120.54(3), Florida Statutes, without further public hearing, unless requested.
      Summary Memo | Presentation | 68D-24.0037
  1. Staff Reports
    1. Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Staff will present an update on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail and the positive impact of recreational wildlife viewing. Wildlife viewers are individuals who intentionally observe or photograph wildlife; travel to parks, protected areas, or other natural spaces with the purpose of observing or photographing wildlife; and those who maintain plantings or natural areas for the benefit of wildlife. Wildlife viewing, particularly bird watching, continues to be one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the United States. With more than one-third of the adult population engaging in wildlife viewing across the United States, these stakeholders represent an important constituency for the Commission. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes (This item may get moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
    2. Overview of FWC’s Freshwater Fisheries Long-term Monitoring Program. Staff will present a broad-level overview of the Freshwater Fisheries Long-term Monitoring Program, including its history, relevancy to freshwater fisheries management and assessment in Florida, and past and current program evaluation efforts. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes (This item may get moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
  2. Recess Wednesday’s portion of the meeting no later than 6:00 p.m.

8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 20th

  1. Call to Order
  2. Staff Reports
    1. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) Report. Staff will report on actions and discussions from the GMFMC’s June 5-8 meeting. Topics will include greater amberjack, gag grouper, red snapper, a potential EO to close recreational harvest of Gulf red grouper in state waters to be consistent with federal closure, and other topics relevant to Florida. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes.
      Summary Memo | Presentation
    2. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Report. Staff will report on actions and discussions from the SAFMC’s June 12-16 meeting. Expected topics will include Spanish mackerel, dolphinfish, yellowtail snapper, black sea bass, and updates on other snapper grouper species. Staff will also provide updates on a potential Exempted Fishing Permit for the recreational red snapper fishery off Florida’s east coast. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes.
      Summary Memo | Presentation
    3. Coral Rescue and Restoration Update. Staff will provide an update on Florida’s Coral Rescue effort with a focus on the expansion of propagation activities to jump start coral reef recovery. Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes (This item may get moved to day one or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
  3. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
    Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 3 hours.
  4. Future Agenda Items
  5. Commissioner Exchange
  6. Adjournment
    The next Commission Meeting is scheduled for October 4 – 5, 2023, commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.

Consent Agenda

Any questions about consent agenda items should be addressed to agency staff prior to the Commission meeting.

  1. Proposed Final Rule – Monroe County Anchoring Limitation Area. Staff is requesting approval to correct a typographical error made to a GPS coordinate defining Point “A” for the Garrison Bight Flats designated anchoring area.
    NOTE: Staff is requesting Commission approval to file a Notice of Change.
    68D-14.002 | Summary Memo
  2. December 2023 FWC Commission Meeting Date Change. Staff request approval of a date change for the December 2023 Commission Meeting. The new proposed meeting dates are Tuesday and Wednesday, December 5 – 6, 2023.
    2023 Comm Meeting Date Update