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Marine Fisheries Workshops

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Spotted Seatrout Regional Management Expand/Collapse Spotted Seatrout Regional Management

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. Potential changes under consideration include establishing smaller seatrout management regions with regulations based on evaluations of multiple management metrics specific to each region.

To gather public input on the potential seatrout management framework, FWC will host a series of in-person public workshops across Florida and one virtual workshop during the weeks of September 8–12 and September 15–19. Each workshop will include a brief presentation on the potential rule changes, followed by an opportunity for public comment. Public feedback gathered during these workshops, along with feedback from the 2025 Seatrout Symposium and other submitted comments, will be considered when developing rule recommendations for the Commission.

A full list of workshop dates and locations, along with a link to the virtual meeting, will be posted here once details are finalized and approved.

All stakeholders with an interest in spotted seatrout management are encouraged to participate. If you cannot attend one of the workshops, a recorded presentation for each region and a recording of the virtual public workshop 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 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (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 will provide a brief presentation on potential proposed rule updates. Public feedback gathered during this workshop will be considered when developing rule recommendations for the Commission.

Staff hosted a virtual public workshop on March 7, 2025. If you were unable to attend the workshop, a recording of the workshop is available on YouTube. 

After viewing this video, please share your comments by visiting the FWC saltwater comments page MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or by email Marine@MyFWC.com. Public feedback will inform proposed rules the FWC Commissioners will consider at the May 2025 Commission Meeting. 

The June 5, 2025, virtual workshop has been rescheduled for June 26, 2025, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET. 

The Florida 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 provide a presentation on oyster management before gathering public comment at the workshop.  Feedback gathered during this workshop will help inform staff’s recommendation for proposed rules to the Commission.

Information on the upcoming in-person workshops is listed below.

  • Apalachicola: April 15, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) at the Fort Coombs Armory (66 4th St., Apalachicola, FL 32320).
  • Pensacola: April 16, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (CT) at the Pensacola Main Library (239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL 32502).
  • Cedar Key: April 22, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) at the Cedar Key RV Resort (11980 S.W. Shiloh Rd., Cedar Key, FL 32625).
  • St. Augustine: April 29, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) at St. Johns River State College (2990 College Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32804)
  • Apalachicola: June 3, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) at the Chapman Auditorium (155 Avenue E, Apalachicola, FL 32320)

In addition to five in-person public workshops, staff will host two virtual public workshops through Microsoft Teams. A link to access the virtual meeting will posted to this page. The virtual workshops are scheduled for:

  • May 1, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET) 
  • June 26, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Join the Teams meeting for the June 26, 2025, virtual workshop (meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking input on proposed changes that would create a Bonefish Seasonal Closed Area at a pre-spawning aggregation site within the boundaries of Biscayne National Park.  The proposed regulations would protect bonefish from catch-and-release mortality and prevent disruption of spawning.

Staff will be holding two in-person workshops where they will provide a brief presentation on bonefish research within the park and the proposed rules before gathering public comment.  The feedback gathered during this workshop and other comments submitted to the FWC will inform staff recommendations for the final rule that will be presented to the FWC Commissioners at the August Commission meeting.

The workshops are scheduled for:

  • June 24, 2025 from 6:00–7:30pm at the Kendall Branch Library (9101 SW 97th Ave, Miami, FL 33176)
  • June 25, 2025 from 6:00–8:00pm at the UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County (18710 SW 288th St., Homestead, FL 33030)

If you cannot attend the in-person workshop, you can provide comment on this topic by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking input on proposed changes to the recreational and commercial minimum size limit and establishing a recreational bag limit for lane snapper in Gulf state waters.  The proposed regulations changes would reduce over harvest of lane snapper and reduce the likelihood of early closures.

Staff will provide a brief presentation on potential proposed rules before gathering public comment at the workshop. Public feedback gathered during this workshop will be considered when developing rule recommendations for the Commission.
In-person workshops are scheduled for:
  • June 25, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:30pm at the Fort Myers Regional Library South Building (1651 Lee St., Fort Myers, FL 33901)
  • June 26, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:30pm at the West St. Petersburg Community Library (6700 8th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710)
Join the Teams meeting for the June 30, 2025, virtual workshop (meeting will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. ET).  

If you are unable to attend the schedules workshop, you can provide comment on this topic by visiting MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proposing changes to the rules governing Coral Formation Protection Zones (CPZs) of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and is holding two virtual public workshops to gather public input. Proposed changes under consideration would resolve discrepancies between the CPZ boundary coordinates described in rule language and the areas currently marked by buoys on the water, maintain conservation of Florida’s Coral Reef, and decrease the total acreage in which lobster harvest and trap deployment are prohibited. Staff will provide a brief presentation on proposed CPZ modifications and seek public feedback. Public feedback gathered during these workshops will be considered when developing rule recommendations for the Commission. 

Two virtual public workshops are scheduled for:

  • June 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST) 
  • July 1, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST). 

Join the Teams meeting for the July 1, 2025, virtual workshop (meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET).

To submit a written comment about the Coral Formation Protection Zones of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, please visit the FWC saltwater public comments page: www.MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments or emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.  

For questions, contact the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at (850) 487-0554.