Marine Fisheries Workshops

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering a new regional management approach for the spotted seatrout fishery, similar to the current frameworks for redfish and snook. Proposed rule changes include establishing smaller seatrout management regions with regulations based on evaluations of multiple management metrics specific to each region.

FWC staff will host a series of in-person and virtual public workshops from November 12 through December 8 to gather input on the proposed rules approved by the Commission at the Nov. 5-6 FWC Commission Meeting. Each workshop will include a brief presentation on the proposed rule changes, followed by opportunities to ask questions and provide public comment. In-person workshops will be held from 6:00–8:00 p.m. local time. Virtual workshops will run from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will feature region-specific information. Public feedback gathered during these workshops and other engagement efforts will inform decisions on the final rules.

All stakeholders with an interest in spotted seatrout management are encouraged to participate. If you are unable to attend one of the workshops, a recorded presentation for each region and a recording of the virtual public workshops will be available after the workshops conclude. Links to these recordings will be posted to this page. You can also provide comments on this topic by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing Marine@MyFWC.com. 

The links for the virtual workshops will be posted on this page the day of each event. All workshop dates and locations are listed below:

Previous Workshops

Monday, Dec. 8

• Virtual webinar: Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay regions.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

• Apalachicola: Franklin County Commission Chambers, 34 Forbes St.

Thursday, Nov. 13

• Crawfordville: Wakulla County Community Center, 318 Shadeville Rd. 
• Virtual webinar: Charlotte Harbor, Southwest and Southeast regions.

Monday, Nov. 17

• Virtual webinar: Panhandle Region. 

Tuesday, Nov. 18

• Stuart: City of Stuart Commission Chambers, 121 SW Flagler Ave.
• Jacksonville: Mayport "William B. Gulliford" Community Center, 4875 Ocean St.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

• Sebastian: Sebastian Community Center, 1805 N. Central Ave.
• Titusville: Titusville Community Center, 4220 S. Hopkins Ave.

Thursday, Nov. 20

• New Smyrna Beach: Marine Discovery Center, 520 Barracuda Blvd. 
• St. Augustine: St. Johns County Agricultural Center, 3125 Agricultural Center Dr.

Monday, Dec. 1

• Virtual webinar: Big Bend Region.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding public workshops to gather input on proposed rules for the regulation and management of commercial and recreational oyster harvest in Apalachicola Bay, as well as regulations that would apply statewide. Topics for the proposed rules include commercial and recreational licensing requirements; setting annual harvest levels and bag limits; harvest seasons; reporting requirements; and authorized landing locations. 

Workshop dates, locations, and times are as follows:

Sept. 30 – Apalachicola 6-8 p.m. ET at County Commission Meeting Room, 34 Forbes St., Apalachicola, FL 32320.

Oct. 7 – Apalachicola 6-8 p.m. ET at the Chapman Auditorium, 155 Avenue E, Apalachicola, FL 32320.

Oct. 14 – Bronson 6-8 p.m. ET at Dogan S. Cobb Municipal Building,660 E. Hathaway Avenue Bronson FL  32621

If you are unable to attend, you can provide input by submitting comments through our FWC Saltwater Public Comments page or by emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.   

Your feedback will inform staff’s recommendation for final rules for oyster management in Apalachicola Bay and statewide that the Commission will consider at their November 2025 meeting. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a series of in-person public workshops and one virtual webinar to gather input from stakeholders that will help shape the recreational red snapper fishery off Florida’s Atlantic coast, including state management.

Workshops will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude by 8 p.m. ET.

• Oct. 6 – Jacksonville at William “Bill” Gulliford Community Center, 4871 Ocean St., Jacksonville FL 32233
• Oct. 7 – St. Augustine at Willie Galimore Community Center, 399 Riberia St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Oct. 8 – New Smyrna Beach at Brannon Center- River Room, 105 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
• Oct. 9 – Canaveral at Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
• Oct. 14 – Ft. Pierce at St. Lucie County Commission Chambers, 2300 Virgina Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34982
• Oct. 15 – West Palm at Palm Beach Main County Library, 3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406
• Oct. 16 – Ft. Lauderdale at UF Ft. Lauderdale Research & Education Center, 3205 College Ave. Davie, FL 33314
• Oct. 21 – Virtual Webinar: Join the webinar here.

For more information on these meetings, visit our Atlantic Red Snapper Workshop page at MyFWC.com/AtlanticRedSnapper.
If you are unable to attend, you can provide input by submitting comments through our FWC Saltwater Public Comments page or by emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering changes to rules in chapters 68B-2 and 68B-8, Florida Administrative Code, as the third phase of improvements to the Marine Special Activity License (SAL) program. Potential changes under consideration will address topics including the collection of marine prohibited species for exhibition, emergency response, and aquaculture research; updates to the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) Certification; tagging of marine organisms; and updates to non-conforming gear SALs.

FWC staff will host two virtual public workshops to gather input on potential Phase III updates to rules governing the Marine SAL program. Links to join these virtual public workshops will be posted on this page the day of each event. All workshop dates are listed below:

Dec. 18, 2025

• Virtual Webinar, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
• Topics: Marine prohibited species
• During this webinar, FWC staff will provide a presentation on the current regulations related to the collection of marine prohibited species through the Marine SAL program for activities including exhibition, emergency response, and aquaculture research. Marine prohibited species include marine organisms for which harvest, possession, or sale are prohibited by FWC rule or Chapter 379, Florida Statutes, such as giant manta ray, devil ray, tarpon, Goliath grouper, bonefish, and Bahama starfish. Staff will seek feedback on a range of potential rule changes related to marine prohibited species.

Jan. 8, 2026

• Virtual Webinar, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
• Topics: FMSEA Certification, tagging marine organisms, Non-conforming Gear SALs
• During this webinar, staff will discuss and seek feedback on additional potential Phase III updates to Marine SAL program rules related to the FMSEA Certification, tagging of marine organisms, and changes to improve the organization of regulations related to non-conforming gear SALs so they are easier for the public to locate and understand. 
  Public feedback gathered during these virtual public workshops and other engagement efforts will inform staff’s recommendations for proposed rules that the Commission will consider at its February 2026 meeting.

All stakeholders with an interest in the Marine Special Activity License program are encouraged to participate. If you are unable to attend a workshop, you may provide input on this topic by submitting comments by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.