Amelia Island Fishing News

FWC Concludes Two Day Meeting at Key Largo

December 1, 2005
Contacts: (aquatic and wildlife issues) Henry Cabbage (850) 488-8843
(marine issues) Lee Schlesinger (850) 487-0554

Visit FWC's web site for full meeting Agenda

During its two-day meeting at Key Largo, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved enforcement procedures and educational efforts concerning airboat sound reduction. FWC staff has gathered input from airboaters, sound experts and residents who complain about sound levels produced by airboat engines and propellers.

Commissioners also adopted a rule to discontinue wild hog hunting on the Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) during the small-game season and restrict vehicles to named or numbered roads or trails throughout the area year-round.

In addition, Commissioners discussed modifying manatee protection zones in the Placida Harbor area of Charlotte County to provide higher speed access to Little Gasparilla Island. The rule will be on the agenda for final action at a later meeting.

Commissioners also reviewed proposed 2006-07 regulation changes for wildlife and freshwater fishing and a draft procedural rule that would incorporate the FWC’s due process procedures into a rule, reorganize current procedural rules and repeal obsolete rules.

Concerning land acquisitions, Commissioners voted to commit $5 million from the Florida Forever Trust Fund for joint acquisition of the Babcock Ranch and up to $10 million from the FWC’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund for potential acquisition of 2,000 acres of the Babcock Ranch for a gopher tortoise mitigation park.

FWC Commissioners approved a rule to reduce the recreational daily bag limit from two fish to one fish per person for red grouper harvested and possessed in Gulf of Mexico state waters, beginning in January.

In addition, Commissioners approved new rules to establish that the method for determining the total length measurement for marine fish is to measure the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head, with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail, with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side. A new rule also changed the measurement for gray triggerfish from total length to fork length. These rules take effect July 1, 2006.

In other marine fisheries action, Commissioners voted to establish a nontransferable blue crab limited-entry endorsement for certain net fishermen who have a valid blue crab endorsement but no qualified landings. This endorsement allows these fishermen to use up to 100 traps to harvest and sell hard shell blue crabs. The new rule also allows a daily bycatch of 200 pounds of blue crabs per vessel from shrimp trawls and stone crab traps, and allows a blue crab harvester to obtain permission from the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement to let another person transport, deploy, pull or retrieve the harvester’s traps on a short-term basis for hardship reasons.

Commissioners also proposed a rule to add 13 species of sharks to the list of protected species and discussed Dry Tortugas National Park special regulations.

During staff presentations, Commissioners heard updates on an industry-sponsored proposal to reduce commercial fishing effort in the Gulf red grouper fishery and the future of saltwater fishing in Florida, and reports on individual fishing quotas and various federal marine fisheries management issues.

The next FWC meeting will take place in Gainesville Feb. 1-2.