The Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management
(DFFM) provides expertise on freshwater fish populations, angler
use, or other aspects of freshwater fisheries needed for management
decisions by the FWC, and to assess impacts of decisions made by
others to ensure quality fisheries and fishing in selected Florida
lakes, fish management areas, rivers and streams.
DFFM biologists are the first line of support for
inquiries by the public for information on freshwater fisheries
management issues, fishing opportunities, fish pond management,
fish kills or other general fisheries-related issues. The DFFM also
delivers aquatic education and outreach to future anglers to expose
them to angler ethics, fisheries management, aquatic ecology,
tackle crafting, angling skills, fish identification and other
aspects aimed at promoting responsible life-long participation in
sport fishing. Additionally, freshwater fish production facilities
provide a dependable supply of the specific size, quantity and
quality of freshwater fish for specific freshwater fisheries
management objectives.
The division has 69.5 full-time positions, two
sections (Regional Freshwater Fisheries Management and Hatchery
Operations and Stocking) plus a special projects group. These
individuals protect and enhance 3 million acres of lakes, ponds and
reservoirs, and 10,550 miles of rivers, streams and canals. The
recreational fishery resources alone in these waters provide
entertainment for more than 1.4 million anglers annually, who spent
24.4 million days fishing recreationally in Florida's fresh
waters. They had an economic impact of $2.4 billion, in 2006.
Those expenditures helped create 19,000 jobs in Florida. In
addition, freshwater commercial fishing generates $13 million per
year.
Tom Champeau is the division director.
Persons with Disabilities