The agenda focused on boating issues, including proposed legislation on statutes related to vessels and vessel registration. Commissioners directed staff to proceed with proposing new regulations concerning anchoring, mooring and local governments’ jurisdiction for the Florida Legislature to consider. Also, Commissioners adopted new rules regarding boating restrictions in Martin and Okeechobee counties, based on a vessel traffic study and requests for revisions from stakeholders and governmental bodies.
Commissioners revoked a final order that permitted the City of Naples to post waterway markers in the Naples Bay area. The FWC granted the permit in March 2007, but an appeals court overturned the decision, requiring the Commission to execute a new final order denying it.
In addition, Commissioners heard staff reports on high water and wildlife issues in the Everglades and reviewed proposed rules to improve Florida’s quota hunt program for sportsmen who will use the state’s wildlife management area system during the 2009-10 hunting seasons. Commissioners directed staff to proceed with the new rules, which will come up for final approval at the February meeting in Destin.
In addition, Commissioners heard an update on a general management plan for the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition and a summary on the recent summit, “Florida’s Wildlife: On the front line of climate change.”
Also during Wednesday’s session, Commissioners voted to proceed with a land swap proposal by the Saddle Creek Corp., City of Lakeland and the state Board of Trustees concerning the FWC-managed Tenoroc Fish Management Area. The proposal involves swapping an FWC-managed 10-acre tract to go to Saddle Creek Corp. in exchange for 40 acres adjacent to state-owned land.
FWC Commissioners selected Rodney Barreto as chairman and Kathy Barco as vice chairman for 2009.
A final public vote on proposed rule amendments for gag and red grouper in Gulf of Mexico state waters was on Thursday’s agenda. Commissioners approved rules to reduce the recreational bag limit for Gulf gag grouper from five fish to two fish daily per person and prohibit the recreational harvest of Gulf gag grouper from Feb. 1 through March 31. This is consistent with gag grouper regulations in Gulf federal waters. The Commission also voted to increase the recreational bag limit for Gulf red grouper from one fish to two fish daily per person.
Other new rule amendments approved by the Commission include increasing the recreational minimum size limit for greater amberjack from 28 to 30 inches fork length and increasing the commercial and recreational minimum size limit for gray triggerfish from 12 to 14 inches fork length in Gulf state waters. These rules are consistent with current regulations in Gulf federal waters.
The new Gulf gag and red grouper, greater amberjack and gray triggerfish rules take effect on Jan. 1.
In other marine fisheries action, the Commission proposed a draft rule amendment that would make the recreational Gulf red snapper fishing season in state waters consistent with federal regulations. The proposed red snapper open season in Gulf state waters would be from June 1 through Sept. 30, if adopted by the Commission at their meeting in February.
Another draft rule amendment proposed by the FWC would end the moratorium on the reduction of lobster trap certificates and provide that the number of trap certificates be reduced by 10 percent to a purchaser only when they are sold or transferred to someone outside the immediate family of the certificate holder.
The Commission also proposed a series of draft rule amendments for the marine life (aquarium species) fishery. The proposed rules would add new fish and invertebrate species to marine life regulations, establish or change size and bag limits and gear specifications for several marine life species, and make other administrative and technical marine life rule changes.
In addition, the FWC proposed a draft rule that would establish six regional closed seasons around the state to the harvest of blue crabs with traps. These closures would extend for up to 10 days each to help identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from Florida waters.
Final public hearings on the proposed red snapper, lobster, marine life and blue crab rules will be held in February.
The full agenda is available online at www.MyFWC.com/commission/2008/Dec08/index.htm.
Studies show snakeheads do less harm than generally thought
Chronicle News Services
Snakehead always worries fisheries managers.
MIAMI — Marty Arostegui forked a white fillet from his plate, dipped it in sweet Thai chili sauce and took a bite.
“One of the finest fish I’ve had,” Arostegui, a retired physician, said.
Arostegui, who has caught and eaten seafood delicacies everywhere from Suriname to Thailand, had bagged this dinner the previous day in a narrow, muddy weed-lined canal that runs along a busy highway in North Lauderdale, Fla.
He served it to his family and three guests in his elegant dining room, along with white rice and salad. Everyone pronounced the entree delicious.
It was a 4½-pound snakehead — a slimy, ugly freshwater fish native to Asia that has been the scourge of fisheries managers from Florida to New York to Arkansas for the past eight years.
Despite poisoning and draining ponds in northeastern states and making possession of the live exotics a criminal offense, snakehead populations are slowly spreading from water bodies, where it is believed they were deliberately released.
Paul Shafland, who heads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s nonnative fish lab in Boca Raton, said the bullseye snakehead — the only one of 25 snakehead species detected in Florida — is found mostly in north Broward’s C-14 system.Shafland said. “If you catch them, eat them. Don’t release them.”
But so far, the pesky exotic hasn’t turned into the environmental disaster that some predicted.
Early results from the FWC’s most recent electrofishing study in the C-14 - (stunning fish with a mild electrical charge so they can be examined) — shows that although snakeheads are abundant, they are not destroying populations of largemouth and peacock bass — the two main gamefish species in South Florida lakes and canals.
Examining the stomach contents of 127 dead snakeheads, they found the remains of 13 of their own species plus one bluegill, 11 mosquitofish, seven warmouth, two peacock bass, several lizards, bufo toads, small turtles, a rat and a snake.
Law enforcement officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cited a Sawgrass Recreation Park airboat captain, Charles W. Riley, D.O.B 10-28-47, of Tamarac, Florida with failing to report a boating accident, a misdemeanor, and careless operation, an infraction.
The FWC filed the charges after the airboat Riley was driving, a 28-foot Diamondback, took on water and sank in an Everglades marsh Oct. 4. The incident was not reported to the FWC until Oct. 7.
FWC investigators determined the airboat’s capacity is 23 people. There were 37 people (cruise ship passengers) on board the vessel when water came over the bow. The boat sank in 6-8 feet of alligator-infested water 100 yards north of Sawgrass Recreation Parkin western Broward County.
Other airboat captains in the area rescued the tourists, among them young children. Some suffered minor injuries. Approximately $5,000 in personal items was destroyed, including cameras and cellular phones.
FWC investigators concluded the airboat was overloaded with people, which caused the boat to sink.
ORLANDO — Scientists addressing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s first climate change summit last week forecast a bleak future for the state’s fish and wildlife over the next century:
• As many as 30 percent of native species could face extinction from habitat loss because of rising ocean levels.
• Coral reefs could begin dissolving in 10 to 12 years as increasing carbon dioxide levels make oceans more acidic.
• South Florida’s mangrove forests could be greatly reduced or even lost, leading to increasing storm surges.
• Invasive species such as melaleuca trees and blue tilapia — a hardy freshwater fish from South America — will spread north, crowding out Florida’s remaining native plants and animals.
”We don’t have to wait for the future; it’s already here,” Hal Wanless, chairman of the geological sciences department at University of Miami, told workshop participants Wednesday.
The three-day session might have been the first of its kind organized by a state agency. Chuck Collins, FWC southeast regional director, said Florida really is on the front line of global climate change because it sticks out like a thumb from the rest of the North American continent with 8,000 miles of shoreline, making it very susceptible to sea level rise and forecast increases in major storms.
Ironically, the summit — originally scheduled in August — had to be postponed because of Tropical Storm Fay. It is expected to lead to the development of policies and strategies aimed at minimizing impacts on fish, plants and animals.
”We are experts on wildlife management but not climate change,” Collins said.
Speakers at the summit’s opening session Wednesday said Florida policymakers must act now to prepare for what Wanless called “changes to Florida and Earth beyond your wildest imagination.”
As polar ice sheets melt, he said, South Florida could experience a 1 ½-foot rise in sea level over the next 50 years, and a three- to five-foot rise by the end of the century.
”Turkey Point is out in the middle of Biscayne Bay with a three-foot rise,” Wanless said. “With a four- to five-foot rise in sea level, all our barrier islands will be abandoned. The Everglades would be overwhelmed. The difference between a one- to two-foot rise and a three- to five-foot rise is all the difference between messy and wet, and totally unliveable and loss of coastal environments.”
Thomas Eason, in charge of habitat and species conservation for the FWC, cited several examples of how climate change already is affecting Florida’s wildlife.
”There’s been a 50 percent reduction in coral cover in the Keys since 1996,” Eason said. “The common snook is now seen off Alabama. Blue tilapia have expanded their range 50 miles northwest all the way up to Gainesville. Sooty terns are nesting 1-2 months earlier. The brown pelican and wood stork center of breeding has moved northward.”
Reed Noss, a professor of conservation biology at University of Central Florida, predicted that as sea levels rise, about half of Florida’s population would be forced to move away from the coasts, crowding into inland regions such as the Lake Wales Ridge and Kissimmee Valley. The human influx, Noss said, would crowd out wildlife, such as the endangered Florida panther. He recommended the creation of large upland preserves with travel corridors for fleeing wildlife.
”Is it cost-effective to spend billions on Everglades restoration, or would funds be better spent to move species upland?” Noss said.
To stem the loss of coral reefs, Robert van Woesik, a biology professor at Florida Institute of Technology, recommended designating networks of marine protected areas with no fishing allowed.
”Local protection leads to local benefits,” he said. “Protection really does matter.”
Other speakers advocated stepping up efforts to control non-native species; allowing natural coastal ecosystems — not seawalls — to buffer shorelines; reducing manmade stressors, such as carbon emissions; and restoring natural freshwater flows to lakes and rivers.
Said Len Berry, director of the Center for Environmental Studies at Florida International University: “The message to take from this is that planning needs to start now. We want to come out of here with things we ought to be concentrating on.”
Freshwater fishing is one of the many outdoor recreational activities encouraged by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The FWC views outdoor recreation as a tremendously beneficial opportunity that should be available to all residents and visitors, and it strives to provide quality fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Cheryl Charles, president of the Children and Nature Network, points out, “People throughout the world are increasingly connected by a resonance and passion, to create a new common sense for the good health of children today and generations to come.”
Dr. Andrew Lepp, assistant professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Kent State, said the benefits from outdoor recreation are varied and plentiful. Outdoor recreation has psychological benefits, including the prevention or reduction of stress and improved self-esteem, confidence and creativity. Lepp also contends it adds to spiritual growth and leads to an increased sense of exhilaration, adventure and challenge from life. Getting outside provides physical benefits, such as aerobic, cardiovascular and muscular fitness, as well as improved functioning of the immune system.
It even offers benefits for the social life. The great outdoors affords social benefits, such as bonding with like-minded people who also enjoy outdoor activities, and feeling an increased pride in your community and nation.
The economy benefits from all of this activity as well. Outdoor recreation creates job opportunities for others, which leads to economic growth and preservation of the natural areas needed for outdoor recreation increases property values. The workplace wins because people who regularly participate in outdoor recreation tend to be more productive at work, Lepp said.
The list continues with positive outcomes for the environment. People who participate in outdoors activities usually have increased environmental awareness. This awareness translates to increased involvement in environmental issues.
Specific activities such as fishing can add to the enthusiasm and provide a fun challenge to become increasingly skillful. In Florida, the abundance of natural waters (7,700 named lakes, 12,000 miles of fishable rivers and canals) means the opportunity is available to everyone. From digging worms and making your own cane pole, to casting a lure, you develop a connection with nature that comes naturally and has been an American tradition since long before Mark Twain’s tales of the adventurous Huck Finn.
Every year the FWC works with the Florida Disabled Outdoor Association at its Sportsability event, and this year we joined them at the Family Café event in Orlando. These opportunities reinforce the pure fun of experiencing nature, and we redouble our commitment to making fishing accessible for everyone.
Clay Dyer - a professional bass fisherman who was born without lower legs, no arm on the left and a partially developed arm on the right - inspired hundreds of individuals with physical and mental challenges during his motivational presentation at the Family Café event. Clay is a hero and inspiration to virtually everyone he touches with his life story, which he calls “The View from Down Here is Just Fine.” He is also a spokesperson for the C.A.S.T. for kids program.
The FWC is doing its part by teaching kids to fish, sponsoring Becoming an Outdoors-Woman events, helping create bank-fishing access and building accessible boat ramps, courtesy docks and fishing piers. Most importantly, the FWC is dedicated to conserving and enhancing fisheries habitat and fish populations for everyone.
We invite you to get outdoors and take someone with you, so you can enjoy all the benefits of getting back to nature.
Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).
Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell, or 1-888-404-3922.
Paul Shafland, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Exotic Fisheries Lab, captured this year’s “Pass It On” Award.
September 2008
The award was given by the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (FOWA) and Bass Pro Shops.
He bagged the honor at FOWA’s annual conference Sept. 13.
The “Pass It On” Award is an achievement award created by Bass Pro Shops to recognize individuals who have gone the extra mile or devoted their lives to introduce others to the joys of the outdoors.
“Recognition by Florida’s premier professional outdoor writers makes this especially meaningful,” Shafland said. “They are my professional peers, and that makes this award a high honor.”
Shafland began his devotion to the outdoors 34 years ago when he started working as a biologist at the then-Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, now FWC.
“I’ve always been interested in fishing, and that developed into a strong professional desire to understand and help manage Florida’s native and nonnative fisheries.”
Shafland said he is particularly passionate about enhancing Florida’s freshwater fisheries, especially the urban-based butterfly peacock bass fishery.
During his career at FWC, his most notable contribution has been introduction of butterfly peacock bass in South Florida waters. In 1984, in an effort to fight an exploding harmful nonnative fish population, Shafland and his team got approval to introduce the bass. While the butterfly peacock bass is a nonnative species, it was released in South Florida only after extensive research determined there would be no ill effects on native fish populations. The plan was to use the species to prey on undesirable nonnatives and produce desirable fishing opportunities. It is the only nonnative fish legally and intentionally released by the FWC.
In the 24 years since the release of the butterfly peacock bass, exotic fish populations in South Florida have declined, and the butterfly peacock bass is one of the most popular sport fish for freshwater anglers. Anglers spend millions of dollars annually to catch this fish.
“I appreciate everyone — especially the thousands of anglers, young and old — who have made Florida’s urban-based butterfly peacock fishery the success it is,” Shafland said.
By Bob Wattendorf, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an aphorism that we’ve all likely heard and understood. When you see a cute photo of a child and proud parent displaying even the smallest of fish, you get a sense of the power of images to convey not only thoughts but feelings.
Unfortunately, some of those same photos we are so proud of can accidentally convey the wrong message. Especially when they are published, they can proliferate unsafe or illegal practices. In other cases, they may simply fail to reinforce important safety and conservation messages that could otherwise positively affect the future of our fisheries.
For those reasons, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recently taken a more proactive stance by developing “Image Guidelines for Fishing and Boating Scenes,” with examples of the good, the bad and the ugly (See MyFWC.com/fishing/pdf/photoguidelines.pdf). These guidelines are supported by a candid research document that cites many important studies explaining the rationale behind commonly suggested catch-and-release fish-handling suggestions (See MyFWC.com/fishing/pdf/photoguidelines_notes.pdf).
The FWC realizes that promoting Florida fishing and boating includes not only an obligation to portray the fun, excitement and camaraderie in a positive fashion but also to reflect safe and sustainable use of Florida’s natural resources. We are proud that so many fine publications print this Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin each month, and we encourage them and all of their contributors to review these photo guidelines and use them when possible to strengthen both the appeal and important messages that their photography conveys.
The following photography tips and guidelines are just a summary of the full document, which we believe will be helpful to every angler. Next time you go fishing or boating bring along a camera to capture the memories, and remember these tips to help produce a great photo and remind you of what it takes to be safe around the water and to help ensure fish for tomorrow’s enjoyment as well.
Subject Matter Tips
1. Photos of anglers should reflect good taste and safe, legal and conservation-minded fishing practices.
2. Emphasize the fun of fishing with big smiles and natural settings. Avoid trash in the background, excess blood and tobacco or alcohol.
3. Ensure appropriate boating safety equipment is evident in the photo. For instance, life jackets should always be on children in a boat.
4. Photos should depict safe boating practices, including avoiding overloading small vessels, use of kill switches, etc.
5. Fish that are illegal to harvest, due to creel or size limits, should be shown in the water. For instance, undersized sailfish jumping or a goliath grouper alongside the boat about to be released. Gaffs should not be used on fish that may be released. Tarpon that are out of the water should have a “legally harvested” tag showing.
6. If you have to remove fish from the water, try holding your breath while the fish is out of the water as a reminder to release it quickly. Large fish should never be suspended by the jaw, not even to weigh them, if they are going to be released. To protect the slime layer, use wet hands to handle fish. Similarly, if a landing net is needed, use a rubber-coated net. Never touch the eyes and gills. However, holding and supporting the fish horizontally with a thumb (depending on the species; be careful of sharp teeth) or lip-grip tool in the mouth and using the other hand to help support and control the fish can keep it from thrashing around or getting loose. Properly used, hemostats, needle-nosed pliers or dehooking tools can be useful for backing the hook out, but cut the line if it is deeply embedded.
Photography Tips
1. Digital or film - Digital cameras work fine for most applications. However, if you plan to print the image, a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels (good for a 4″ x 6″ image) is needed.
2. ISO - ISO refers to the light-capturing quality of film, but a similar setting is available on many digital cameras. Lower numbers (25-100) require more light, but capture much greater detail.
3. The rule of thirds applies - When composing photos, it is often best not to center your subject, but place it so the focal point is about one-third of the way from an edge.
4. Closeup - For many fishing shots, you’ll want to come close to filling the frame with the fish, the angler and the fish, or a scene including the tackle and fish.
5. Smiles - When photographing anglers, it’s all about the fun of fishing that should be reflected in the anglers’ smiles and body language. Mix the direction up with anglers sometimes focusing on the fish, rather than the camera.
6. Lighting - Natural light, especially early morning and late afternoon, tends to provide the most dynamic effect. When using a flash, ensure you are close enough for the power of your flash and be aware of the redeye effect. To avoid shadows on someone’s face, for instance from their cap bill, consider using your camera’s fill flash.
If you get a great shot that you’d like to share with us and maybe see published, send it to me at Bob.Wattendorf@MyFWC.com, and include a completed photo-release form (see MyFWC.com/Fishing/pdf/PhotoRelease.pdf).
Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 1-888-404-3922. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing/Updates for more Fish Busters columns.
The best locations for catching catfish occur all over the state of Florida.
By Bob Wattendorf:Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Apalachicola River offers excellent fishing for channel, flathead, and blue catfish. Angling for big channel cats is best from April into early July; flathead fishing picks up in April and runs into the summer months. Small catfish can be caught year-round, but the spring and summer months are best.For all species, anglers should try the area from the Jim Woodruff Dam south to Owl Creek. Target deep holes with structure, old creek channels and the mouths of tributaries. Live bream fished on the bottom work well for big flatheads, while stink baits or night crawlers (also fished on the bottom) should do the trick for channels. Try fresh cut bait, such as mullet, if pursuing blue catfish.
The Choctawhatchee River provides outstanding fishing for channel and flathead catfish. Channel catfishing is best from late May through early July and October into November, if the water remains warm. Small catfish can be caught year-round. Concentrate on the Alabama line south to West Bay and around the mouth of Holmes Creek and other tributaries. Most of the larger catfish are found in the northern portion of the river within deep bends and holes or where large woody debris is present. Try live bream on the bottom for flatheads up to 30 pounds. Stink baits or night crawlers fished on the bottom will do the trick for channels.
The Escambia River generates quality opportunities for blue, channel and flathead catfish. Fishing for channel catfish and big flatheads peaks from April through October. The best stretch lies from the Alabama line to the I-10 Bridge. Savvy anglers will fish live bream on the bottom for big flatheads and stink baits or night crawlers for channel cats.
The St. Johns River and Dunn’s Creek yield superior bullhead, channel catfish and white catfish. Prime locations include Dunn’s Creek to Lake Crescent, Murphy’s Creek from the St. Johns River to Dunn’s Creek, and the river from Palatka to Little Lake George. Try the hole on the north side of Buffalo Bluff Bridge, but bring plenty of hooks and weights because there are many snags.
The Ochlocknee River offers excellent fishing for bullhead, channel, flathead and white catfish. The best angling begins in April for flathead catfish and mid-May into early summer for channel cats. Both channels and flatheads will continue to bite until the water turns cold in October or November. Small catfish can be readily caught throughout the year, but fishing slows down in colder months. Catfishing is good throughout the entire river but especially in the Talquin tail race area for whites and flatheads. Try deep rivers bends with structure further downstream for flatheads as well.
The Clermont Chain of Lakes offers anglers superb opportunities for channel and white catfish.Anglers should concentrate on offshore open-water areas, particularly near drop-offs or around bottom structures. Canals and channels may also be attractive to catfish during times of flow. Cut baits or stink baits should work well for both species.
Haines Creek, near Leesburg, provides good angling for bullheads, channel catfish and white catfish. Most of the larger channel catfish are landed from mid-April through June and October and November as water temperatures begin to drop. However, small catfish of all species are readily available year-round, in flowing water. The creek between Eustis and Griffin lakes offers the best catfishing on the system, particularly below the lock and dam.
The Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes affords great bullhead, channel catfish and white catfish angling opportunities. Big channel catfish experience peak spawning periods between April and June and are hungry right afterwards. Bullheads primarily spawn from October into November but may spawn year-round.Water flow will concentrate catfish and make them easier to locate and catch. The best sites include C-31 (East Lake Canal), C-35 (Southport Canal), C-36 (canal between Lake Cypress and Lake Hatchineha), C-37 (canal between lakes Hatchineha and Kissimmee), below the Kissimmee River structure (S-65), around the mouth of and in Shingle Creek, and in the lake proper around fish attractors. Catfish are often found near drop-offs or around bottom structure in the canals.
Southwest Florida Lakes offer many excellent opportunities for channel catfish and bullhead, including: lakes 2-5, B and Picnic at Tenoroc Fish Management Area (Polk County); lakes LP2 West, Haul Road Pit and Pine East at Mosaic Fish Management Area (Polk County); lakes 1 and 3 at Hardee Lakes Park (Hardee County); Lake Manatee (Manatee County); and ponds managed under the Tampa Bay Urban Fishery Program, particularly Dover District Park and Stephen J. Wortham Park.
Joe Budd Pond (Gadsden County), a 20-acre impoundment provides excellent channel catfishing. Fish can be found throughout the lake, particularly around the fishing fingers and along the dam. This site is only open to the public on weekends, beginning the first Saturday in July through the Labor Day weekend (including the Labor Day holiday). Fishing worms or night crawlers on the bottom are all that is needed for great catches. Fish can be caught from shore or from a boat. Gasoline motors are not permitted. Fish are typically nine to 14 inches. A harvest limit of six channel catfish per person, per day is strictly enforced.For more detailed information on these catfish hotspots, visit www.myfwc.com
When people compare a map of Florida as it is currently to a map reflecting predicted development by the year 2060, there is usually a gasp.The amount of anticipated development is stunning, and the byproduct is the loss of wildlife as the lands they inhabit become urbanized. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tackled the challenge of predicting what may be in store for wildlife 50 years from now if growth trends continue. The results are available in the FWC publication “Wildlife 2060: What’s at stake for Florida?” This document looks at the future of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources in a practical and objective way.
The FWC report is based on a study, “Florida 2060” conducted by 1000 Friends of Florida (www.1000friendsofflorida.org ), a not-for-profit organization that monitors growth in the state.
“As the state agency whose mission is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people, it is our responsibility to predict what could happen to the resources we have been charged to conserve. It is what people expect of us,” said Ken Haddad, executive director of the FWC. “Our scientists and managers have ‘crunched’ the numbers for the Wildlife 2060 report and assessed what might happen to fish and wildlife if growth continues on its same course.”
The report provides specific examples of how Florida’s species could be impacted by growth. Recent predictions indicate the state’s human population may double to 36 million in the next five decades. The amount of urbanized land in Florida also is expected to double. To accommodate the increase in population, the report projects that by 2060, roughly 7 million additional acres of Florida land will be developed.
“The development of 7 million acres represents a substantial loss of habitat and exceeds the size of Vermont,” said Dr. Thomas Eason, conservation initiatives coordinator for the FWC. “Continuing the current trend clearly would be detrimental to wildlife, but it also would be detrimental to people. Fishing, hunting, bird-watching, all kinds of outdoor activities, which brought many of us to Florida in the first place, would be greatly diminished. This affects our quality of life and our economy.” The revenue from hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and boating brings billions of dollars to the state annually.
Wildlife 2060 illustrates how continuing the past patterns of urban sprawl could result in fragmented natural places.
“Natural habitats could become islands in a sea of development,” Eason said. “Corridors for some animals to move about the state will be cut off by roads, subdivisions and shopping malls.”
Another prediction is that human-wildlife encounters will increase. As development encroaches on what was habitat for wild animals, people and wildlife will come face-to-face. Many animals will be displaced by human development, and humans will have to learn to live with those that remain. Large predators such as panthers, bears and alligators will pose great challenges for people living with them.
Though the state faces a daunting situation, the executive director of the FWC doesn’t believe the battle is lost.
“On the contrary, I have confidence that Floridians will band together to ensure that we do the right thing for our fish and wildlife while boosting our economic growth and quality of life,” Haddad said. “But, we must bring the best out in people to reach solutions, and we must bring virtually all interests to the table to make that happen.”
Rodney Barreto, chairman of the FWC, encourages everyone to do all they can to change what is happening.
“Get involved in land-use planning and decision-making, and become good stewards of the land,” Barreto said. “Become educated about what to vote for and encourage your policymakers to support initiatives that help wildlife, provide incentives for private land conservation and encourage smart growth. I am confident the future for our wildlife is bright.”
The FWC hopes the report motivates Floridians to look at growth more wisely and inspires people to get involved to keep the quality of life that diverse wildlife and healthy habitat provide.
To view the 28-page report, “Wildlife 2060: What’s at stake for Florida?” online, visit MyFWC.com/wildlife2060 .
Florida is called the “Fishing Capital of the World” in part because it is the destination of choice for anglers from throughout the United States and numerous countries around the world.
With great natural resources and the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and responsible anglers, Florida is home to some of the highest quality, most diverse fishing in the world. The results are like a well-chummed fishing hole, attracting anglers who vote for their favorite fisheries with their best cast and hard-earned cash.
The latest national statistics showed Florida has 2.8 million resident anglers (versus Texas at No. 2, with 2.5 million) and Florida annually attracts 885,000 tourists who fish here (versus 395,000 who visit No. 2 North Carolina). As a result, Florida’s economy benefits by a billion dollars in direct sales (No. 2 Wisconsin receives $600 million from non-residents). And even though Texas has more inland water area (5,056 square miles vs. 4,672 for Florida) and people (22.9 million vs. 17.7 million from the 2006 Census data), Florida has more resident anglers and more than four times as many tourist anglers (885,000) as Texas (218,000).
With summer vacations in full swing (or cast, as the case may be), and gas prices restricting travel, Florida will likely see more anglers from neighboring states and those along the I-10 and I-95 corridors. Moreover, more Floridians are likely to stay within the state borders to conserve fuel and avoid paying for non-resident fishing license fees. A Florida resident freshwater or saltwater license costs $17 and is valid for 365 days from date of purchase. Since the average number of fishing trips per angler in 2006 was 17.2 days of fishing with many fishing trips lasting four or more hours, fishing remains an exceptional recreational value, even without catching dinner and bringing it home.
From April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008, the state sold 201,768 non-resident fishing licenses with nearly 5 percent of that total sold to non-U.S. residents, especially Canadians. Of the U.S. portion (194,251 licenses), 26.5 percent were to residents of Georgia and 9.8 percent from Alabama. New residents and snowbirds, who have lived in Florida for less than six months or don’t claim Florida as their permanent residence, make up 7.7 percent.
Anglers can help maintain Florida’s standing by following sound conservation practices and encouraging others to as well by:
Promoting, through personal example, ethical behavior in use of aquatic resources.
Valuing and respecting the aquatic environment.
Avoiding spilling or dumping pollutants, such as gas or oil.
Keeping fishing sites litter-free by disposing of trash, including worn lines, leaders and hooks, in appropriate containers, and recycling when possible.
Purchasing and maintaining a current fishing.
Taking precautionary measures to prevent spread of exotic plants and animals.
Learning and obey angling and boating regulations.
Treating other anglers, boaters and property owners with courtesy and respect, and never trespassing on private lands or waters.
Keeping no more fish than needed for consumption, and never wastefully discarding fish.
Carefully handling and releasing alive all fish that are unwanted or prohibited by regulation. Use tackle and techniques that minimize harm to fish when “catch and release” angling.For more information, visit www.TakeMeFishing.org or www.VisitFlorida.com. Instant fishing licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).
Bob Wattendorf is Marketing and Special Projects Coordinator and Webmaster for Freshwater Fisheries Management in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He can be reached at Bob.Wattendorf@MyFWC.com.
From Staff and Wire Reports BassOnline.com
888-629-BASS (2277)
)
