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Meeting Agenda

Date: May 21, 2025 Time: 8:30 am
Date: May 22, 2025 Time: 8:30 am
Location:

College of Central Florida
The Ewers Century Center, Klein Conference Center
Building 40
3001 S.W. College Rd.
Ocala, FL 34474

Public comments will be accepted in person during the meeting.
This meeting is open to the public

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) is committed to providing an opportunity for public input at each Commission meeting. The Commission is offering the opportunity for stakeholders to provide their comments in advance, as well as in person. For in-person comments, please review the speaker registration guidelines at myfwc.com/about/commission/. Advance comments were due no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the first day of the meeting. If you would like to provide comments via mail, please send them to the following address:

FWC Commissioners
620 South Meridian St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399

To accommodate public input at meetings, the Chairman reserves the right to determine the amount of time given to agenda items and public comments. If you do not wish or are unable to speak at the meeting but would like to provide comments, you may do so using the online comment form or by contacting the Commissioners directly via email at [email protected].

At the meeting, the Commission may take action on any agenda item presented, including staff reports. Agenda items may be re-ordered, moved to a different day, or rescheduled to a different meeting as determined by the Chairman. The meeting may include fact-finding field trips to learn about research, management and enforcement activities.

If any person decides to challenge any decision with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes testimony and evidence upon which the challenge is based.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify the agency at least 2 calendar days before the meeting by calling 850-488-6411 or contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (Voice), if you are hearing or speech impaired. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, or if you need more information, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: FWC, Office of Human Resources, 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-488-6411. Or write to: Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

8:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 21

  1. Call to Order
    1. Call to Order
    2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
  2. Administrative Matters
    1. Approve February 2025 Commission Meeting Minutes
    2. Approve Regular Meeting Agenda
    3. Approve Consent Agenda
      Details for all consent agenda items are listed at the end of this document. Any questions about a consent agenda item should be addressed to agency staff prior to the Commission meeting. Any item not approved as part of the consent agenda may be moved to the regular agenda or postponed at the discretion of the Chairman.
  3. Executive Director’s Report
  4. Awards and Recognition
    1. Sonya Rood Volunteer of the Year Award
    2. Vic Heller Instructor of the Year Award
    3. Youth Hunting Program of Florida – Landowner of the Year Award
    4. Law Enforcement Prosecutor of the Year Award
    5. Florida Land Steward 2025 Landowner of the Year Award

BREAK

  1. Items Requiring Action
    1. Proposed Rules – Options for a Black Bear Hunt. At the December 2024 Commission meeting, Commissioners directed staff to develop a range of options for the Commission’s consideration for black bear hunting in 2025. Staff will present options for amendments to hunting rules to implement a sustainable and repeatable hunt structure based on bear population information. Detailed proposed rule language is provided in background documents for this item. Following direction from the Commission, staff will return to a future commission meeting for a final hearing.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than two hours. (This item may be moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation | 68A-12.012 and Associated Rule Changes

ANTICIPATED LUNCH BREAK

    1. Proposed Rule – Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Species. Staff will present proposed changes to rules related to Prohibited species that are intended to encourage more Floridians to remove Prohibited nonnative green iguanas from the wild in Florida. The proposed rules would create an allowance to transfer live-collected green iguanas to entities with permits to sell them out of state, address qualifications for sales of green iguanas, and address some caging requirements for juvenile green iguanas and tegus. The proposed rule also adjusts the permit renewal timeframe for Prohibited species pet permits and identifies options for FWC Law Enforcement to place Prohibited species with exhibition facilities operating out of residential properties.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than one hour. (This item may be moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation | Application 1 | Application 2 | 68-5
    2. Proposed Rules – Marine Special Activity License (SAL) Program Phase II Updates. Staff will present recommendations for proposed rule changes to rules in Chapter 68B-8 and Rule 68B-2.012, F.A.C., as the second phase of improvements to the Marine SAL program. The changes would address general conditions and restrictions, policies, eligibility requirements, tagging of marine organisms, the definition of “prohibited species,” the decision process flow chart for the genetic risk assessment of release activities, the Florida Marine Science Educator Association (FMSEA) Certification, and reorganization of the non-conforming gear SAL rules.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. (This item may be moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation | 68B-2.012 | 68B-8.002 | 68B-8.003 | 68B-8.005 | 68B-8.006 | 68B-8.007 | 68B-8.008 | 68B-8.009 | 68B-8.010 | 68B-8.011 | 68B-8.012 | 68B-8.013 | 68B-8.0131 | 68B-8.0132 | 68B-8.0133 | 68B-8.014
    3. Proposed Rules – Protections for a Bonefish Pre-Spawning Aggregation in Biscayne National Park. Staff will present a recommendation for proposed rule changes to 68B-7.008, F.A.C., that would create protections for bonefish in Biscayne National Park by seasonally prohibiting all hook-and-line fishing in the area where bonefish aggregate prior to spawning.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. (This item may be moved to day two or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation | 68-7.002 | 68-7.008
  1. Recess Wednesday’s portion of the meeting no later than 5:00 p.m.

8:30 a.m., Thursday, May 22

  1. Call to Order
  2. Staff Reports
    1. Division of Marine Fisheries Management Annual Workplan. Staff will review new and ongoing marine fisheries programs and management issues anticipated to be worked on during the 2025/2026 fiscal year. These programs and issues will comprise the DMFM 2025/2026 Workplan. This presentation will also highlight the work completed during the previous workplan cycle. Staff will request approval of the proposed workplan for 2025/2026 fiscal year.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. (This item may be moved to day one or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
    2. Gulf Council (GMFMC) Report. Staff will report on actions and discussions from the GMFMC’s April 7-10 meeting. Expected topics will include red snapper, lane snapper, several grouper species, and other topics relevant to Florida.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. (This item may be moved to day one or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
    3. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Report. Staff will report on actions and discussions from the SAFMC’s March 3-7 meeting. Topics will include updates on NOAA Fisheries’ Secretarial Amendment and FWC’s Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) Projects. Staff will also provide an update on recent recreational closures in federal waters for gag grouper, golden tilefish, and snowy grouper.
      Public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than 30 minutes. (This item may be moved to day one or postponed).
      Summary Memo | Presentation
  3. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
    To ensure adequate time to address the business needs of the Commission, public comment on this agenda item will be limited to no more than two hours. (This item may be moved to day one).
  4. Future Agenda Items
  5. Commissioner Exchange
  6. Adjournment
    The next Commission meeting is scheduled for August 13-14, 2025, commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.

Consent Agenda

Any questions about consent agenda items should be addressed to agency staff prior to the Commission meeting.

  1. Proposed Final Rule – Hunting Regulations for Ducks, Geese, and Coots. Migratory bird hunting regulation frameworks (special early waterfowl, regular waterfowl and coot, and limited Canada goose seasons) are established annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and changes in these frameworks generally necessitates conforming action by the Commission. The proposed amendment to Rule 68A-13.003, F.A.C. would remove the September teal-only hunting days, maximize the number of falconry days, and increase the daily bag limit for pintails from one to three per day to conform with federal frameworks.
    Note: Staff is requesting Commission approval to advertise the proposed rule amendments and file for adoption as soon as possible. If the rule is approved for both advertisement and final adoption, Commission staff will file the rule for adoption as allowed by s. 120.54(3) Florida Statutes, without further public hearing.
    Summary Memo | 68A-13.003 | Background Document
  2. Proposed 2026 Commission Meeting Dates. Staff seek approval of the proposed 2026 Commission Meeting dates.
    Background Document - Proposed Dates 
  3. Proposed Final Rule – Federal Consistency for 9 Species. Staff will seek approval to update Florida Endangered and Threatened Species List to maintain consistency with federal listing determinations or scientific names for 9 species. Three species will be updated to Federally-designated Threatened, including the red-cockaded woodpecker (currently Federally-designated Endangered), oceanic whitetip shark and queen conch (both currently with no status). Two species will be added to the Federally-designated Endangered list: the black-capped petrel (currently no status) and pillar coral (currently Federally-designated Threatened). One species, the Bachman’s warbler, will be removed from the list due to extinction. Additionally, staff will seek approval to update names for 3 species: scientific names of Audubon’s crested caracara, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, and the common and scientific names of the Rice’s whale. If approved, staff will publish a Notice of Proposed Rule for Rules 68A-27.003, Florida Administrative Code.
    Note: Staff is requesting Commission approval to advertise the proposed rules and file for adoption as soon as possible. If the rules are approved for final adoption, Commission staff will file the rules as allowed by s. 120.54(3), Florida Statutes, without further public hearing.
    Summary Memo | 68A-27.003
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