09-17-2007, 06:10 PM
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has postponed, at least until December, approval of a new species management plan and rule changes to reclassify manatees from endangered to threatened. However, Commissioners approved reclassification of gopher tortoises from species of special concern to threatened.
The FWC also will review a draft management plan and rule proposals to remove bald eagles from the imperiled species list entirely. Final action on that issue may take place during the FWC's December meeting at Key Largo.
Commissioners also approved four rule proposals concerning permit requirements for activities involving marine turtles.
In addition, Commissioners heard staff reports about the agency's deer management program, proposed rule changes to wildlife and freshwater fisheries regulations for 2008-09 and recommendations for the future of freshwater fishing in Florida.
On Thursday, Commissioners approved new rules to let licensed trap-fishers designate people to recover and possess their traps when the governor and FWC declare an emergency following a storm. The rules also exempt local, state or federal officials from having to get FWC approval before removing traps, derelict traps and trap debris from areas where trapping is prohibited and modify the definition of a derelict trap under a requirement that blue crab traps must be marked with FWC trap tags.
Commissioners also approved new rules that allow recreational fishers to use fold-up blue crab traps up to 1 cubic foot in volume - not necessarily pyramid-shaped - and deleted a provision limiting the base panel of fold-up traps to 1 square foot. The trap recovery and recreational trap rules take effect in mid-October.
The Commission also proposed several rules for red snapper harvested in Gulf of Mexico state waters to make them consistent with pending permanent rules for red snapper in federal waters and replace interim federal rules.
These measures would reduce the daily recreational bag limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish per person, establish a zero daily bag limit for captains and crew of Gulf for-hire vessels, and shorten the recreational fishing season for Gulf red snapper to 107, 122 or 154 days - depending on the outcome of the pending federal rules.
In addition, these proposed rule changes would reduce the minimum size of commercially harvested red snapper in the Gulf and the minimum size of imported red snapper from 15 to 13 inches total length and reduce the daily commercial bag and trip limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish per day. Proposals also would allow only non-stainless steel circle hooks to harvest any reef fish when natural baits are used and require a venting tool and a de-hooking device to be present onboard vessels harvesting any reef fish.
A final public hearing on these proposed rule changes for Gulf red snapper will be held during the Commission's February meeting in Panama City.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission directed staff to renew the existing memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service regarding the management of marine fisheries in Biscayne National Park and work with park officials and stakeholders to modify certain provisions of the agreement.
The Commission also considered various federal marine fisheries management issues and received the final vision document for the future of saltwater fishing in Florida.
Other matters on Thursday's agenda included boating regulations on or adjacent to the Withlacoochee River in Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties during flooding; requirements for possession and exhibition of dangerous animals; and regulation changes that make FWC's due process provisions more accessible to the public.
Friday's session focused on the FWC's financial and legislative matters and issues to discuss with stakeholders for the 2009 legislative session.
The complete agenda and background materials are available at MyFWC.com/commission.
The next FWC meeting will take place Dec. 5-6 at Key Largo.
The FWC also will review a draft management plan and rule proposals to remove bald eagles from the imperiled species list entirely. Final action on that issue may take place during the FWC's December meeting at Key Largo.
Commissioners also approved four rule proposals concerning permit requirements for activities involving marine turtles.
In addition, Commissioners heard staff reports about the agency's deer management program, proposed rule changes to wildlife and freshwater fisheries regulations for 2008-09 and recommendations for the future of freshwater fishing in Florida.
On Thursday, Commissioners approved new rules to let licensed trap-fishers designate people to recover and possess their traps when the governor and FWC declare an emergency following a storm. The rules also exempt local, state or federal officials from having to get FWC approval before removing traps, derelict traps and trap debris from areas where trapping is prohibited and modify the definition of a derelict trap under a requirement that blue crab traps must be marked with FWC trap tags.
Commissioners also approved new rules that allow recreational fishers to use fold-up blue crab traps up to 1 cubic foot in volume - not necessarily pyramid-shaped - and deleted a provision limiting the base panel of fold-up traps to 1 square foot. The trap recovery and recreational trap rules take effect in mid-October.
The Commission also proposed several rules for red snapper harvested in Gulf of Mexico state waters to make them consistent with pending permanent rules for red snapper in federal waters and replace interim federal rules.
These measures would reduce the daily recreational bag limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish per person, establish a zero daily bag limit for captains and crew of Gulf for-hire vessels, and shorten the recreational fishing season for Gulf red snapper to 107, 122 or 154 days - depending on the outcome of the pending federal rules.
In addition, these proposed rule changes would reduce the minimum size of commercially harvested red snapper in the Gulf and the minimum size of imported red snapper from 15 to 13 inches total length and reduce the daily commercial bag and trip limit of Gulf red snapper from 4 fish to 2 fish per day. Proposals also would allow only non-stainless steel circle hooks to harvest any reef fish when natural baits are used and require a venting tool and a de-hooking device to be present onboard vessels harvesting any reef fish.
A final public hearing on these proposed rule changes for Gulf red snapper will be held during the Commission's February meeting in Panama City.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission directed staff to renew the existing memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service regarding the management of marine fisheries in Biscayne National Park and work with park officials and stakeholders to modify certain provisions of the agreement.
The Commission also considered various federal marine fisheries management issues and received the final vision document for the future of saltwater fishing in Florida.
Other matters on Thursday's agenda included boating regulations on or adjacent to the Withlacoochee River in Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties during flooding; requirements for possession and exhibition of dangerous animals; and regulation changes that make FWC's due process provisions more accessible to the public.
Friday's session focused on the FWC's financial and legislative matters and issues to discuss with stakeholders for the 2009 legislative session.
The complete agenda and background materials are available at MyFWC.com/commission.
The next FWC meeting will take place Dec. 5-6 at Key Largo.