Current status is a Species of Special Concern in Florida.
The FWC received two petitions to re-evaluate the status of the
Panama City crayfish. The petitions were received in 2001 and
2003, respectively. In fulfillment of the 2001 petition, a
biological assessment following the listing process rules was
initiated. However, a listing moratorium was initiated in
2003 and the listing process rules were changed in April 2005.
Following the new process, a biological status report was
completed, reviewed by independent peer reviewers, and presented to
the Commission at the June 2006 Commission meeting. The
Commission agreed that reclassification of the Panama City crayfish
from Species of Special Concern to Threatened is warranted; however
the reclassification will not occur until a management plan for the
species is approved. Public comment was sought and
incorporated in a revised draft management plan. This draft
plan, dated May 2007, was scheduled to be finalized and presented
for approval at the February 2008 Commission meeting held in Panama
City. However, at the December 2007 Commission meeting, FWC
staff were directed to revise the listing process and halt current
listing actions, including finalization of the draft revised Panama
City crayfish management plan. In 2010, the Commission
approved new rules for listing imperiled species and the Panama
City crayfish remained listed as a Species of Special Concern
in Florida. Staff completed a biological status review of the
Panama City crayfish in late 2010 which can be found on our website.
Staff are now working on developing a management plan for the
Panama City crayfish.
Please view our Listing Process for more information on
the listing process moratorium and changes. Below is a link
to the petitions received in 2001 and 2003 and the Biological
Status Report.
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