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 is considering changes to rules governing the Marine Special Activity License (SAL) program (Chapter 68B-8, Florida Administrative Code). Potential changes under consideration include updates to eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, license conditions, and requirements for tagging marine organisms; modifying terminology related to third-party contractors, revising the definition of prohibited species and prohibited species collection criteria; streamlining rules related to the transferability of marine organisms harvested under an SAL; updates to Scientific Research, Education/Exhibition, Stock Collection and Release, Snook, Gear Innovation, Governmental Purpose, Nonprofit Corporation, and Marine Chemical SALs; and updates to the Florida Marine Science Educators Association Certification process.
Staff hosted a virtual public workshop on this topic on March 7, 2025. For information about this workshop, visit: MyFWC.com/SaltwaterWorkshops
Proposed rules will be presented to the FWC Commission at their May 2025 Commission meeting. For details about Commission meetings, visit: MyFWC.com/About/Commission/Commission Meetings
To comment on this topic, please use the form below.
FWC is exploring different ways to promote post-release survival of tarpon in this important location. We’d like to hear your input! Please send us your ideas and recommendations for ways to protect this iconic fishery.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants your feedback on proposed rule amendments to increase shrimp harvest opportunities for Nassau and Duval Counties. Proposed rule amendments include:
- Increasing the dead shrimp allowance for commercial live bait harvesters from 1 gallon to 5 gallons to match the rest of the state.
- Opening part of Pumpkin Hill Creek off the Nassau River to recreational and commercial shrimp harvest from September through December.
There will be an in-person workshop scheduled for April 2, 2025, from 6:00-8:00pm at the William “Bill” Gulliford Jr. (Mayport) Community Center (4875 Ocean St, Jacksonville, FL 32233). For more information about this workshop, visit MyFWC.com/SaltwaterWorkshops.
Feedback will help inform staff’s recommendations for final rules to the Commission. For details about Commission meetings, visit MyFWC.com/About/Commission/Commission Meetings.
If you are unable to attend the in-person workshop but would still like to comment on this topic, please use the form below or send an email to Marine@MyFWC.com.
The return of a bonefish pre-spawning aggregations has been documented at a site in Biscayne Bay that has links to fish that reside in both the bay and the Florida Keys. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering regulations to provide additional protection for fish at this aggregation site, because they are highly susceptible to predators after catch-and-release. We would like your feedback on potential rule making that would seasonally prohibit all hook-and-line fishing in the patch reef area where bonefish are documented to aggregate prior to moving offshore to spawn.
Proposed rules will be presented to the FWC Commission at their May 2025 Commission meeting. For details about Commission meetings, visit MyFWC.com/About/Commission/Commission Meetings
To comment on this topic, please email Marine@MyFWC.com or use the form below.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking input on the regulation and management of commercial and recreational oyster harvest in Florida, and specifically in Apalachicola Bay. Potential updates under consideration are changes to licensing requirements for fishery participants, bag limits, seasons, tolerances for undersized attached and unattached oysters, enforcement of undersized oysters in a certified oyster house, modifying how harvest units are measured.
Staff will be hosting public in-person and virtual workshops from April-June. In-person workshops will be hosted in Apalachicola, Pensacola, Cedar Key, and St. Augustine. For more information on these workshops, visit MyFWC.com/SaltwaterWorkshops.
Public feedback will inform staff’s rule recommendations to the Commission. Apalachicola & statewide oyster management proposed rules will be presented at the August 2025 Commission meeting. For details about Commission meetings, visit MyFWC.com/About/Commission/Commission Meetings
If you are unable to attend the in-person or virtual workshops but would still like to comment on this topic, please use the form below or send an email to Marine@MyFWC.com.
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.