Saltwater Public Comments
The FWC welcomes comments on any species, even those not featured on this page, at any time via the comment form below, email at Marine@MyFWC.com or phone at 850-487-0554.
The following topics are either tentatively slated to be brought before the Commission in the near future or items FWC staff plan to begin working on.
This is not an all-encompassing list and topics may be moved to a later date or not discussed at all.
Visit the Commission meeting agenda page to see what FWC staff will be presenting to the Commission at an upcoming meeting.
Public Workshops
Share your input in person by attending a public workshop.
Future Commission Meeting Items
Fishing-line entanglement of birds, primarily brown pelicans, has been occurring at Skyway Fishing Pier State Park (Skyway Pier) for many years. FWC and partners have conducted outreach and education and implemented multiple actions to reduce entanglements and improve bird rescue success. Despite these past actions, severe entanglements that cause harm to pelicans and other seabirds are still occurring in large numbers.
FWC seeks feedback on potential changes to fishing regulations at Skyway Pier to reduce angler-seabird interactions and further seabird conservation.
Public workshops will be held on this topic. For information about those workshops, visit: https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/rulemaking/workshops/.
Comment on this item by using the form below.
FWC is adopting a holistic management approach for snook that includes a review of several environmental and human factors such as habitat, fishing effort, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate the fishery at a more local scale. FWC is proposing new management regions for snook along with regional regulations based on the fishery status in each region.
Staff held in-person workshops in March 2023. For more information please visit the FWC Workshop page.
Comment on this item using the form below.
FWC wants your feedback on a federal consistency action to modify recreational gag and black grouper regulations in Atlantic state waters, including all state waters of Monroe County.
Specifically, the rule would:
- Establish a 2 fish per vessel recreational limit for gag and black grouper, and
- Prohibit retention of gag and black grouper by captain and crew on for-hire trips
Recently, the South Atlantic Council approved similar changes to end overfishing of gag grouper and help rebuild the stock. Because of misidentification issues, the Council also approved applying the same changes to recreational black grouper fishery. These federal changes are pending approval and implementation by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Staff will present a federal consistency action at a future Commission meeting and would like your input.
Comment on this item using the form below.
Atlantic Gag and Black Grouper
Content: "FWC wants your feedback on a federal consistency action to modify recreational gag and black grouper regulations in Atlantic state waters, including all state waters of Monroe County.
Specifically, the rule would:
-
Establish a 2 fish per vessel recreational limit for gag and black grouper, and
-
Prohibit retention of gag and black grouper by captain and crew on for-hire trips
Recently, the South Atlantic Council approved similar changes to end overfishing of gag grouper and help rebuild the stock. Because of misidentification issues, the Council also approved applying the same changes to recreational black grouper fishery. These federal changes are pending approval and implementation by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Staff will present a federal consistency action at a future Commission meeting and would like your input.
Other topics
The FWC will be reviewing several trap fisheries in the upcoming year including spiny lobster, blue crab, pinfish/baitfish, trap retrieval, recreational trap fisheries, and traps used for shellfish aquaculture leases.
Both the gag grouper stocks in the Gulf and South Atlantic are overfished and undergoing overfishing. This will require new rebuilding plans and lead to modifying current management regulations. Staff welcomes any management suggestions or feedback that could help better understand and improve gag grouper populations statewide.