The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) ended a two-day meeting in Crystal River on Thursday. The Commission heard an update on Florida's management of imperiled species and directed staff to draft a rule to rewrite the imperiled species listing process for review at the September meeting.
During Wednesday's session, Commissioners also heard an update on the agency's manatee management plan, showcasing the significant management tasks that are in progress. FWC Commissioners approved the plan in December 2007. The FWC's Division of Law Enforcement also provided a progress report on its work plan regarding manatee harassment from human interaction.
Commissioners approved new rules concerning taking and possession of wild freshwater turtles, eliminating commercial harvest.They also approved new regulations governing establishment and operation of game farms. In addition, Commissioners approved new rules to regulate captive wildlife with regard to permitting; caging and other requirements for Class I, II and III wildlife; and to establish requirements for operation of wildlife sanctuaries. The FWC adopted a new peregrine falcon management plan and approved removal of the peregrine falcon from Florida’s list of endangered species.
Commissioners took up marine fisheries during Thursday's session and approved a rule to change the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters from June 1 through Sept. 30 to June 1 through Aug. 14. This is consistent with new federal regulations and is necessary because of recreational over-harvests of Gulf red snapper in 2008. The FWC also approved new rules for Gulf grouper that are consistent with new federal regulations. The rules help reduce fishing pressure on Gulf grouper to improve fishing in the future.
The new rules will decrease the daily recreational aggregate bag limit for grouper from five fish to four per person in Gulf state waters, except in Monroe County, and establish a Feb. 1 - March 31 closed spawning season for all recreational harvest of shallow-water groupers (gag, black, red, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, rock hind and red hind) in Gulf state waters, except in Monroe County. Other provisions in the new grouper rules will reduce the commercial minimum-size limit for Gulf red grouper, and for all importation and sale of red grouper, from 20 inches to 18 inches total length. The new Gulf grouper rule will take effect in August.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission proposed draft rule amendments to clarify that it is unlawful to buy or sell snook taken within or without the state except as provided in snook special activity license provisions; that no person shall harvest or possess any snook taken within or without the state during closed seasons; that snook possessed on state waters, whether landed within or without state waters, must be in a whole condition; and that anglers may temporarily possess snook only to determine compliance with size requirements. These rule amendments will take effect in early September unless a public hearing is requested.
Commissioners also proposed draft rule amendments that would automatically allow use of new designs of bycatch reduction and turtle exclusion devices in shrimp trawls in state waters, when new designs are certified for use in adjacent federal waters, and make technical changes to turtle excluder device rules. Two bycatch reduction devices currently allowed in state waters would continue to be legal. The FWC will hold a final public hearing on the proposed rule amendments in September.
In addition, the Commission reviewed and discussed a recent red drum stock assessment and management of the bonefish fishery and considered various federal fisheries management issues.
The full agenda is available at MyFWC.com/Commission/2009/Comm_09_Agenda.htm
The FWC also has a scheduled workshop on June 19 to discuss state and federal marine fisheries management coordination.
The next FWC regular meeting is set for Sept. 9-11 at Howey-in-the-Hills.
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