FWC wrangles with conservation issues

FWC wrangles with conservation issues

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed its staff Wednesday to move forward with proposed new rules to curb illegal release of nonnative animals into the wild. Commissioners took the action during their two-day meeting at Dania Beach.

The proposal would include a new rule allowing owners of unlicensed fish and wildlife to surrender their animals without penalty at FWC-sponsored amnesty events and to state and animal-control agencies. Commissioners will consider final action on the measure during their September meeting at Jacksonville.

Other rule proposals from this week’s meeting will be up for final action in September. They include prohibiting waterfowl hunting from or within 30 yards of any permanent duck blind on lakes Miccosukee, Iamonia, Carr and Jackson.

Also, the Commission reviewed proposed rule changes concerning taking, possession and sale of freshwater turtles. These proposals would help protect freshwater turtle populations while the FWC develops a comprehensive management strategy for wildlife species that are not regulated under current rules. Those measures also will be on the September agenda.

Commissioners reviewed the FWC’s imperiled species listing system to see if the system can be improved.

Commissioners also directed staff to proceed with developing a management plan for the peregrine falcon – the final phase in the process for removing the bird from the state’s endangered species list.

Also Commissioners heard an overview of the "Wildlife 2060: What’s at stake for wildlife?" draft report being developed by the FWC’s staff. The report, which will be finalized later in the summer, details environmental changes and challenges likely to occur in Florida over the next five decades.

The second day of the meeting focused on marine issues. Commissioners passed a rule to allow commercial fishermen to harvest striped mullet on weekends and other rules to extend the Stone Crab Advisory Board to July 1, 2011 and allow the use of galvanized 16-gauge or thinner degradable staples to construct the degradable panel on wire stone crab traps. These rules take effect on July 13.

In other marine fisheries action, the FWC reviewed and discussed the use of fishing nets and net-related issues and voted to leave the 2-inch net mesh requirement as is. Commissioners also reviewed and discussed Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council gag and red grouper regulatory actions and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council vermilion snapper and gag grouper management alternatives and considered other federal fishery management issues.

The full agenda is available online at MyFWC.com/commission/2008/Jun08/index.htm.

The next FWC meeting will be at Jacksonville Sept. 17-19.