The fourth and final group of draft action plans to conserve dozens of Florida fish and wildlife species is ready for public inspection and input, including plans to protect pillar coral and the Southeastern American kestrel.

Since February, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has shared plans to conserve 60 species listed now as state-threatened or species of special concern. While listing status may change for some species once a final Imperiled Species Management Plan is approved by the Commission, all 60 species will be managed by the FWC to maintain or grow their populations to preserve Florida’s wildlife legacy for future generations.

The FWC, in this final group, is releasing draft action plans for 13 species. In addition to pillar coral and kestrel, there are plans for the limpkin, crystal darter, Black Creek crayfish, Santa Fe cave crayfish and seven reptiles that reside in the Florida Keys. The reptiles are the Key ringneck snake, rim rock crowned snake, Florida Keys mole skink, as well as lower Keys populations of Florida brownsnake, Peninsula ribbon snake, red rat snake and striped mud turtle.

The public is invited to go to MyFWC.com/Imperiled to read and comment on the plans for these 13 species, with the last day for public comment being June 21.

The FWC will incorporate public feedback as it revises the 49 action plans covering the 60 species. Plans will identify specific threats, challenges and actions. The next step will be identifying Integrated Conservation Strategies that address common actions benefiting multiple species in areas such as:

• Habitat conservation and management;
• Research and monitoring;
• Incentives and influencing;
• Education and outreach;
• Law and policy;
• Climate change.

“The FWC is conserving species such as the Florida black bear, bald eagle and gopher tortoise by using management plans that address a single species. With the challenge of conserving 60 additional species, the FWC is strategically marshaling its resources in ways that address the species’ common threats and needs,” said Claire Sunquist Blunden, the FWC’s stakeholder coordinator for the Imperiled Species Management Plan. “Once draft species action plans are revised to incorporate public input, the FWC’s work in the coming year will focus on developing conservation strategies that will benefit multiple species.”

Ultimately, the outcome will be an Imperiled Species Management Plan that the FWC will use as a roadmap to work with the public and partners to ensure all 60 species are conserved. The final Imperiled Species Management Plan is scheduled for approval by the Commission in 2015.

Pillar coral is rare in Florida waters, where it ranges from Palm Beach County to the Dry Tortugas. Threats to pillar coral described in the draft action plan include changes in acidity and temperature of ocean water, damage from human activity such as boats and anchoring, and a continuing decline of mature individuals of the species. Pillar coral is being recommended for listing as a threatened species.

Installing additional mooring buoys, so boats do not need to drop anchor near reefs, is one of the suggested conservation actions to protect pillar coral, along with additional research to assess pillar coral population, genetic diversity and reproductive potential. Restoration efforts may include rearing of juvenile pillar coral in nurseries and enhancing reefs with species such as long-spined urchins that benefit overall reef habitat.

The Southeastern American kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, is also being recommended for listing as a threatened species. Once found commonly through seven southeastern states, this subspecies now lives primarily in Florida. The kestrel is dependent on using the nesting cavities of other birds such as woodpeckers, but in the absence of naturally created cavities, manmade nesting boxes are acceptable to this bird of prey.

More than 160 nesting boxes for kestrels in Levy and Marion counties have been maintained during the past two decades by biologists from the FWC, University of Florida and University of Nevada-Reno. In 2009, the FWC initiated the Southeastern American Kestrel Partnership, which promotes nest box monitoring programs throughout peninsular Florida.

Future conservation of kestrels will depend on the cooperation of many partners beyond the FWC, including private landowners willing to manage their lands to provide wildlife habitat. Almost any landowner can help by building and putting up nest boxes for Southeastern American kestrels. The most important feature of the nest box is a 3-inch-diameter entrance hole. Go to MyFWC.com/Research, click on “Wildlife” and then on “Southeastern American Kestrel” for information on building a kestrel nest box.

The change is being proposed in an effort to reduce the chances of chronic wasting disease (CWD) being introduced into the state. CWD is not known to affect people.

The disease, which has been discovered in 22 states, two Canadian provinces and in South Korea, is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It is similar to mad cow disease, always fatal, and there is no known cure or vaccine for the animals.

The rule-change proposal will go before the Commission at its June 13 meeting in Lakeland, and the FWC encourages all those who have an interest to go to MyFWC.com/Deer and select “Captive Cervids” to read about what is being proposed and offer any comments, questions or concerns they may have.

If the proposal is passed at the June meeting, it would go into effect soon after.

For more information on CWD, go to www.CWD-info.org.

Florida’s wildlife diversity is reflected in the 16 species of birds, mammals, fish, frogs and snakes whose draft action plans are ready for public review and comment.

The Florida burrowing owl, Florida sandhill crane and Big Cypress and Sherman’s fox squirrels are included in the third group of plans to conserve imperiled species unveiled this year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The brown pelican, gopher frog, Florida pine snake, Florida mouse, Sherman’s short-tailed shrew, short-tailed snake, Florida bog frog, Georgia blind salamander, Atlantic sturgeon, key silverside, saltwater top minnow and mangrove rivulus are also in this group.

The draft plans and the opportunity to provide input online can be accessed at MyFWC.com/Imperiled. The deadline for commenting on these plans is June 7. The fourth and final group of draft species action plans is scheduled for release in May.

The FWC will revise a total of 49 action plans covering 60 species based on the public’s input. While individual species’ action plans will not be approved by the Commission, they are the first step in identifying individual species threats and needs. The next step will be developing integrated conservation strategies that address shared priorities in areas such as wildlife management, habitat conservation and research that will benefit many species. Ultimately, the outcome will be an Imperiled Species Management Plan providing a set of tools that the FWC can use to work with the public and partners to ensure all 60 species are conserved as part of Florida’s wildlife legacy. The final Imperiled Species Management Plan is scheduled for approval by the Commission in spring 2015.

“Conserving Florida wildlife requires attention to the diversity of species that inhabit our waters, land and air,” said Claire Sunquist Blunden, the FWC’s stakeholder coordinator for the Imperiled Species Management Plan. “We are excited about the public’s opportunity to review these 16 draft action plans and suggest ways to improve them.”

The Florida burrowing owl population, for instance, is projected to decline. Conservation guidelines are suggested in the draft plan to help this pint-sized species averaging 9 inches in height. The only subspecies of burrowing owl east of the Mississippi River spends most of its time on the ground or taking refuge in its burrow. It is often found on farms, airports and golf courses that have replaced its historic Florida prairie habitat. The principal range of the Florida burrowing owl is peninsular Florida, but it can be found in isolated pairs and colonies as far west as Eglin Air Force Base and as far south as Key West.

For the Florida sandhill crane, which can stretch to nearly 4 feet tall, a key priority in the draft plan is to stabilize and grow its population by maintaining shallow wetlands for roosting and nesting and open habitats for foraging. Florida sandhill cranes are particularly at risk because of their low annual reproductive rate. Their population is concentrated in peninsular Florida, from Alachua County southward to the Everglades’ northern edge. Available habitat has declined in those areas by 42 percent from 1974 to 2003. While this species is a candidate for federal listing, the FWC’s proposed conservation actions may preclude the need for that.

There are two subspecies of sandhill crane in this state. The Florida sandhill crane, with an estimated population of 4,000 to 5,000, is a year-round resident that nests here during late winter and spring on mats of vegetation about 2 feet in diameter in shallow water. It is joined every winter by 25,000 greater sandhill cranes – larger migratory birds that nest in the Great Lakes region.

The plan for the Florida sandhill crane proposes working cooperatively with ranchers, whose private lands are a stronghold of this species, and using traffic-calming measures such as caution signs to prevent vehicle collisions with cranes, which often forage along roadways.

Meanwhile, the Big Cypress fox squirrel is experiencing loss, degradation and fragmentation of its southwest Florida habitat, which is increasingly urbanized.

The Sherman’s fox squirrel has similar habitat challenges over a wider swath of Florida, with its range extending from the Big Bend in north Florida into most of peninsular Florida. Biologists are in the process of gathering genetic information about the Big Cypress and Sherman’s species of fox squirrels. Significant information about where fox squirrels are in Florida came after citizens responded to the FWC’s request to report fox squirrel sightings online, resulting in 4,221 sighting locations logged from August 2011 to April 2012.

For more information on the Florida burrowing owl, Florida sandhill crane and Big Cypress and Sherman’s fox squirrels, including the fox squirrel survey, go to MyFWC.com/Wildlife and click on “Species Profiles.”

Cleaning up marine fisheries information in 68B of Florida Administrative Code will provide consistency among regulations and clarify complex and confusing language by making it easier for anglers to understand and therefore enjoy Florida’s many saltwater fishing opportunities.

The webinars will be from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT. Information presented at each webinar will be the same.

Learn more by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Rulemaking” and “Upcoming Public Workshops.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved revisions to its gopher tortoise permitting guidelines April 18 at its meeting near Tallahassee. The guidelines are based on stakeholder input and designed to be consistent with the updated Gopher Tortoise Management Plan approved in September 2012.

Updated permitting guidelines provide adequate financial planning for the long-term management of gopher tortoise recipient sites, stipulations for the capture of tortoises for relocation when using a backhoe, and criteria to define when to suspend, revoke or not renew an authorized gopher tortoise agent permit.

This action comes during the time of year when gopher tortoises begin their springtime maneuvers through Florida’s open canopy forests and sandy areas. Tortoises are on the move in search of fresh greenery to eat after emerging from winter dormancy in their deep burrows.

“Ever since the 2007 approval of the original Gopher Tortoise Management Plan, the FWC has worked closely with stakeholders to improve and revise both the gopher tortoise permitting guidelines and the management plan,” said Deborah Burr, the FWC’s gopher tortoise management plan coordinator. “Conservation of gopher tortoises and their burrows that shelter other species is our long-term goal, so they always will be part of Florida’s landscape.”

Gopher tortoises live in all of Florida’s 67 counties, preferring high, dry, sandy places such as longleaf pine forests, oak sandhills, pine flatwoods and coastal flatlands and dunes. Their burrows can be recognized by the half-moon shape of the entrance, which curves at the top.

The gopher tortoise is listed as a state threatened species, and it is against the law to harm gopher tortoises, their burrows or eggs. Generally, it is best to leave a gopher tortoise undisturbed, unless you need to move it off a highway. Then it should be placed immediately on the other side of the road and pointed in the same direction that it was traveling.

For more on gopher tortoises, go to MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has repealed two rules prohibiting spearing and using an artificial light while spearfishing or gigging in state waters off Collier County.

The Collier Board of County Commissioners sent a letter to the FWC in February requesting the change, which was prompted by the Jan. 13 hook-and-line capture of the first lionfish to be documented in state waters off the county. Lionfish are a nonnative invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s native fish and wildlife. Currently, the most effective method for lionfish control and removal is spearing and removal with hand-held nets. Lionfish are rarely caught by hook-and-line.

The repealed rules are just a few of the many Special Acts of Local Application that were put in place by the Florida Legislature, prior to creation of the FWC and one of its predecessors, the Marine Fisheries Commission.

The ban on spearing and using a light while spearfishing or gigging was put in place in the early 1950s, before the development of current statewide spearfishing regulations.

Once the FWC repeal process is complete, spearfishing can resume in state waters off Collier County, and current statewide regulations on the use of spears will apply.

The spearfishing prohibition is also included in Florida Statute, and staff will work with the Florida Legislature to remove this language during the 2014 session.

For more on the proposal presented to Commissioners at this meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), at its April 17 meeting near Tallahassee, moved forward unanimously with a proposal to make tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only fisheries.

The tarpon and bonefish catch-and-release-only proposal includes the following potential changes for management in state and federal waters off Florida:

• Eliminating all harvest of tarpon with the exception of the harvest or possession of a single tarpon when in pursuit of an IGFA record and in conjunction with a tarpon tag.
• Keeping the tarpon tag price at $50 per tag but limiting them to one tag per person, per year.
• Modifying the tarpon tag program, including reporting requirements and shifting the start and end date for when the tarpon tag is valid.
• Discontinuing the bonefish tournament exemption permit that allows tournament anglers to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale.

The proposal will be brought back before the Commission for a final public hearing at its June meeting in Lakeland.

In a separate discussion, the Commission also reviewed how gear is being used for the tarpon fishery in Boca Grande Pass. The Commission directed staff to re-examine the definition of snagging and redefine what gear can be used in the Pass. This issue will likely be brought before the Commission at the June meeting as a draft proposal.

More information is available at MyFWC.com/Commission.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on April 17 at its meeting near Tallahassee discussed waiving the commercial and recreational bag limit and the recreational license requirement for divers harvesting lionfish using certain gear.

In August 2012, the FWC put a temporary rule in place that waived the recreational fishing license requirement when targeting lionfish with a hand-held net, pole spear, Hawaiian sling or any other spearing device designed and marketed exclusively for lionfish. This temporary rule change also removed any bag limits when recreationally or commercially harvesting lionfish. Prior to the change, recreational anglers could not catch more than 100 pounds of lionfish without being required to have a commercial license.

The temporary rule change expires Aug. 3.

The Commissioners will finalize the license waiver and the bag limit removal at their June meeting in Lakeland.

Lionfish are a nonnative, invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s native saltwater fish and wildlife. Currently, the most effective method of removing lionfish from Florida waters is by spearing or using a hand-held net. Removing the license requirements and bag limits will increase lionfish harvest opportunities.

For more on the pr­oposal presented to Commissioners, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its April 17 Commission meeting near Tallahassee discussed a draft proposal designed to make the state’s marine fisheries regulations easier to read, understand and enforce.

Current regulations contain inconsistencies from one species chapter to the next. For example, definitions and the location of specific rules vary from chapter-to-chapter. It is because of issues like these that the public asked the FWC to streamline current marine fisheries rules.

Cleaning up marine fisheries information in 68B of Florida Administrative Code will make it easier for anglers to understand and therefore enjoy Florida’s many saltwater fishing opportunities. It will do this by providing consistency among regulations and clarifying complex and confusing language.

The first part of the proposed cleanup and reorganization effort includes standardizing the format and rule language for 20 species chapters and relocating the regulations for swordfish, wahoo and sheepshead to new rule chapters of their own, separate from chapters dealing with other species. Neither of the changes will alter the meaning of these rules or how they are enforced.

The second part of the proposal includes the creation of a new “General” chapter, which will house definitions and regulations that can be applied to all marine fisheries.

Currently, there is no place for general definitions or rules that apply to all marine fisheries. Instead, individual chapters contain repetitive definitions or rule language, which can be cumbersome and confusing to the reader, especially when worded differently. These changes will reduce confusion and enhance compliance by ensuring there is consistency among wording and meaning, and by eliminating repetition.

All proposed regulations for the new chapter have been taken from existing species rules, and are therefore not new regulations. However, moving them to the new chapter will mean they apply to all marine fisheries, which could change how certain rules are currently enforced for certain species.

For example, a rule in place for red drum, reef fish and king mackerel, specifying vessel operators are responsible for any fishery violations that occur aboard a vessel, will be moved to the “General” chapter and applied to all saltwater fishing. This change will improve enforceability even if no one on the vessel is willing to claim responsibility.

Changes in definitions could also improve how the regulations are enforced. For example, the proposal would expand the definition of “Florida waters” to include any potential fishing site and the adjacent parking area. The definition of “harvest” would be expanded to include the unnecessary harming or destruction of marine organisms.

This rule-cleanup proposal, which will be brought before the Commission for final approval at its June meeting in Lakeland, is the first phase of an extensive rule-cleanup process being conducted by FWC staff, including members of the FWC’s Legal Office and divisions of Law Enforcement and Marine Fisheries Management.

The public is encouraged to offer input on this proposal by attending one of two public webinars April 22 or 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT. Learn more by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater,” “Rulemaking” and “Upcoming Public Workshops.”

Future phases of the cleanup will include standardizing the remaining chapters in 68B; conducting a review of the FWC’s current local laws, which are specific to counties or regions, to determine which ones are still needed; and conducting a comprehensive review of Florida Statutes to determine which statutes need to be transferred to FWC rule or recommended for repeal.

Learn more about this proposal by clicking the “Commission Meetings” link MyFWC.com/Commission.

This season will start June 1 and end July 14. It is inconsistent with the current proposed federal season.

Federal fishery managers recently passed a rule that grants NOAA Fisheries the authority to shorten the federal recreational red snapper season off states that adopt inconsistent red snapper regulations. The current estimate of the recreational red snapper season is 21 days in federal waters off the Gulf coast of Florida.

While the federal limit for how many pounds of red snapper can be caught has increased, the season length has gotten shorter over the past few years because of more fishing effort and larger fish, according to federal fishery managers.

The Commission chose to go inconsistent based on reports that the upcoming federal stock assessment would likely show red snapper populations are doing better than previously thought and reports from anglers that the fishery is improving.

For more on the proposal that was given to the Commission, visit MyFWC.com/Commission.