FWC taking bold steps to prevent new invasive species in Florida

Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff to take bold steps to protect Florida’s native ecosystems from invasive fish and wildlife. During the February meeting, Commissioners tasked staff with drafting proposed rules to prevent the establishment of new nonnative species in Florida. Staff will explore including a risk analysis to prove a species poses little or no threat to Florida’s ecology, economy, as well as human health and safety, before that species could be approved to come into the state.

“I have no qualms about saying we are shutting Florida down to invasive species. You are going to have to prove to us that what you are bringing in is not hurting Florida, that it will not harm our native ecosystem,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Look what the Burmese python and the tegu have done already. We are not trying to hurt the industry, but the time has come that we say Florida is off limits to any new species.”

Staff will share any proposal with the Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Technical Assistance Group, also know as the TAG, and will solicit feedback.

Florida is highly susceptible to the successful establishment of nonnative and invasive fish and wildlife due to the subtropical climate, multiple ports of entry and the high levels of live animal trade. Nonnative fish and wildlife can cause harm to Florida’s ecology and economy as well as human health and safety.

More than 500 nonnative species have been reported in Florida. A substantial amount of these have been introduced via the live animal trade with at least 139 established in Florida, meaning they are reproducing in the wild. Since most nonnative fish and wildlife find their way into Florida's habitats through escape or release from the live animal trade, it is important to prevent high-risk nonnative fish and wildlife from becoming introduced or further established in Florida’s environment through regulatory action.

The FWC uses regulation of high-risk nonnative fish and wildlife in conjunction with a variety of other management strategies to minimize adverse impacts of invasive species and to prevent the introduction of additional species into the wild.

For more information about nonnative species in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.