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:

Monday, Dec. 8

• Virtual webinar: Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay regions. To join, visit: MyFWC.com/SaltwaterWorkshops

Previous Workshops

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 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 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.