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
FWC wants your feedback on a proposed rule to reduce impact of catch-and-release fishing on goliath grouper at three spawning aggregation sites off Marin and Palm beach counties. This rule would prohibit fishing from July 15 – October 15 each year at three sites identified by members of the recreational dive community as having the highest density of goliath in state waters during the spawning season.
These sites include:
- MG-111 and Warrior Reef
- Ana Cecilia and Mizpah Wrecks
- M/V Castor and Bud Bar Wrecks
Staff will present the proposed rule for final consideration at a future Commission meeting and would like your input.
Comment on this item using the form below.
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 10 new management regions for snook along with regional regulations based on the fishery status in each region.
Staff will be hosting 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 proposed rule to modify commercial and recreational greater amberjack regulations in Atlantic state waters. Specifically, the rule would:
- Reduce the Atlantic commercial size limit from 36 to 34 inches fork length,
- Reduce the import size limit from 36 to 34 inches fork length,
- Establish a recreational spawning season closure in April (consistent with current federal commercial closure), and
- Remove outdated commercial language.
Recently, the South Atlantic Council approved similar changes to continue to provide protections for the stock while allowing increased harvest opportunities and these changes are pending approval and implementation by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
Staff will present the proposed rule for final consideration at a future Commission meeting and would like your input.
Comment on this item using the form below.
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.