FWC to meet June 27-28 in Palm Beach Gardens

6/27/2012

NOTE: This is a re-send of a June 18 news release, as confirmation that, despite
Tropical Storm Debby, the Commission meeting will take place as planned.



FWC to meet June 27-28 in Palm Beach Gardens



The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet June 27-28 at
the PGA National Resort<http://www.pgaresort.com/> in Palm Beach Gardens to discuss
the bear management plan, federal endangered species designations, changes in
hunting and saltwater harvest opportunities and the newest phase of its anchoring
and mooring pilot program, among other issues.

The beginning of the first day will be a salute to the military. FWC staff will wear
special attire (shirts or hats) both days to recognize and honor the branches of the
military. Members of the public are encouraged to wear similar attire either day if
they would like to be part of this recognition.

Following the salute to the military, discussion of administrative matters, adoption
of the consent agenda and a report from Executive Director Nick Wiley, staff will
discuss the five-year report on the science plan for Dry Tortugas National Park
Research Natural Area. This report will include information on the effectiveness of
the Dry Tortugas park in protecting shallow-water marine habitat, ensuring species
diversity and enhancing the productivity and sustainability of fish populations
throughout the region.

Also on Wednesday, June 27, Commissioners will focus on conservation of the Florida
black bear, the state's largest land mammal. They will consider taking final action
on adopting the FWC's first management plan for the black bear, which has rebounded
from as few as 300 in the wild in the 1970s to more than 3,000 today.

The goal of the 10-year plan is to "maintain sustainable black bear populations in
suitable habitats throughout Florida for the benefit of the species and people."
Public input was invited and utilized in drafting the bear management plan and will
be important to its implementation. The seven bear management units created in the
plan provide opportunities for public participation in decisions on managing local
bear populations and reducing human-bear conflicts. The latest draft of the bear
plan, which includes changes made after the most recent public-input period ended
June 1, is available at MyFWC.com/Bear.

The Commissioners also will decide on removing the black bear from the state's list
of threatened species and adopting a new FWC rule making it illegal to harass,
injure or kill a bear in Florida.

One butterfly species, the Miami blue, may be re-designated and three others added
to Florida's list of endangered and threatened species to stay consistent with their
new federal status. The Okaloosa darter and Atlantic sturgeon also may be
re-designated at this meeting to stay consistent with their new federal status.

Hunting issues follow. Commissioners will be asked to approve advertising two
proposed amendments as soon as possible so they can become final rules. One
prohibits the take of wild hogs with the use of dogs in the Spring Creek Unit of the
Big Bend Wildlife Management Area. The other would clarify that the executive
director may create special regulations on established FWC-managed areas by
executive order, when unique circumstances arise.

Following staff reports on quota hunt permit transferability and the agency's switch
to a new license vendor, the FWC will present the Hunter Safety Instructor of the
Year Award, followed by presentation of the Wildlife and Resource Management
Achievement Award by the Florida Sportsmen's Conservation Association.

To wrap up the day, the public will be invited to comment on items not on the agenda.

On Thursday, June 28, after recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration programs, FWC Commissioners will take up marine fisheries
issues, which include updates from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and
the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meetings, marine-life management
changes, bay scallops and snook.

Following discussion of the draft rule on several amendments affecting marine-life
species, the Commission is expected to consider final approval of these changes at
its September meeting in Tampa. The proposed changes include a three-year
prohibition on the harvest of the giant Caribbean sea anemone removal of unicorn
filefish, sand perch and dwarf sand perch from the marine life rule clarifying that
the reefs built by Sabellarid tube worms are a type of live rock clarifying that
size limits for angelfish extend to any hybrid forms of the species and that the
size limits for angelfish and butterfly fish apply to all harvesters, including
recreational expanding the definition of snapping shrimp to include all species in
the snapping shrimp family and extending into state waters the prohibition on the
harvest of black corals.

After two years of season extensions with little effect on the bay scallop
population, the Commission will consider permanently extending the bay scallop
recreational harvest season by two weeks.

Following action on a boating issue (see below), Commissioners will review an
updated stock assessment on snook and determine whether or not the recreational
harvest of the species should reopen in Gulf of Mexico state waters. The season is
currently closed through Aug. 31, via an executive order. The closure was initiated
in 2010 after a severe cold spell negatively impacted the snook population.

The boating issue on Thursday's agenda is a staff presentation on an anchoring and
mooring pilot program ordinance for the city of Sarasota. Stakeholders in Sarasota
have developed a proposed ordinance for non-live-aboard vessels outside marked
mooring fields. Commission approval is necessary before Sarasota can enforce the
ordinance.

Once again, the public will be invited to comment on items not on the agenda.

After that, the Commissioners will elect a new chair and vice chair, effective
immediately.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting should advise
the FWC at least five calendar days prior to the June 27 meeting by contacting the
FWC's Office of Human Resources at 850-488-6411. If you are hearing- or
speech-impaired, contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771
(TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

To see the full
agenda<http://myfwc.com/about/commission/commission-meetings/2012/june/27/june/> and
links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select "Commission
Meetings."