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Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

> 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13

1. Meeting Opening
   
   
   1. Call to Order
   2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
   3. Special Presentations and Recognitions
   1. Presentation of the FWC's Prosecutor of the Year Award to Assistant State Attorney Ryan Butler.
   2. Introduction of local Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission employees.
   
   
   
2. Adoption of Agenda



1. Review and Approval of April 11-12, 2007 Commission Meeting Minutes (Background Report 6/6/07)
2. Approval of Consent Agenda (Attached)
3. Approval of Agenda



3. Executive Director's Report



4. Items Requiring Action



1. Final Rules
   68A-15.004, General Regulations Relating to Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs); 68A-17.004, General Regulations Relating to Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs); and 68A-20.004, Regulations in Fish Management Areas (FMAs)-The proposed rules would establish regulations allowing the possession of guns while traveling to private inholdings in WMAs, WEAs, or FMAs or to access private holdings adjacent to WMAs, WEAs or FMAs if the only access to the private holding is across FWC managed areas. (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/10/07) (Background Report 5/15/07) (Background Report 5/15/07)
2. Draft Rules

Review and discussion of draft rule 68A-6.0024, Commercialization of Captive Wildlife; Public Contact; Bonding-The proposed draft rule would establish bonding requirements for the exhibition of Class I wildlife and venomous reptiles contingent upon the passage of the Reptile Bill (SB2766/HB1505) in the 2007 Legislative Session. (Background Report 5/15/07) (Background Report 5/16/07 Update) (Background Report 5/16/07) (Background Report 5/17/07 Update)
3. Issues
1. Review and consideration for approval of recommendations for the biological review panel and timeline to evaluate the petition for changing the imperiled species listing status of the Peregrine falcon. (Background Report  5/08/07)
2. Overview of the imperiled species management plan processes, protocol for modification of management plans following approval and public input on management plans for the manatee, gopher tortoise and Panama City crayfish. (Background Report 5/15/07)
3. Review and consideration of the draft management plan and draft rules to change the listing category and adopt statutory protections for the Florida manatee. (If the draft management plan and draft rules are approved at this meeting they likely will be considered for final review and approval at the September 2007 Commission meeting.) (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/16/07 Update)
4. Review and consideration of the draft management plan and draft rules to change the listing category and facilitate implementation of the management plan for the Panama City crayfish. (If the draft management plan and draft rules are approved at this meeting they likely will be considered for final review and approval at the September 2007 Commission meeting.) (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/16/07 Update)
5. Review and consideration for approval of a policy to end entombment of gopher tortoises. (Background Report  5/16/07) (Background Report  5/16/07) (Background Report  5/18/07 Update)
6. Review and consideration of the draft management plan and draft rules to change the listing category and facilitate implementation of the management plan for the gopher tortoise. (If the draft management plan and draft rules are approved at this meeting they likely will be considered for final review and approval at the September 2007 Commission meeting.) (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/16/07 Update)
7. Review and discussion of the Alligator Management Program assessment and associated draft proposals for program modifications.
(Background Report  5/10/07)


4. Land Acquisitions
1. Review and consideration of acquiring The Nature Conservancy's Davidson Ranch parcel as a Mitigation Park under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Land Acquisition Trust Fund and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Program. (Background Report  5/08/07)
2. Review and consideration of acquiring The Nature Conservancy's Janet Butterfield Brooks Preserve parcel via donation as a Mitigation Park under FWC's Land Acquisition Trust Fund and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Acquisition Program. (Background Report  5/08/07)
3. Review and consideration of adding two parcels adjoining the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area to FWC's Florida Forever acquisition list. (Background Report  5/08/07)
4. Review and consideration of acquiring two Nature Conservancy parcels via donation as additions to the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area under FWC's Florida Forever Inholdings and Additions Acquisition Program. (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/08/07)
5. Review and consideration of Commission Delegation of Final Approval for Acquisition Agreements exceeding $250,000 to the Executive Director, upon notice to the Commission, until the September 2007 Commission Meeting.
(Background Report  5/08/07)


5. Commissioners' Areas of Emphasis

Update on the Florida Wildlife Legacy Initiative (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  6/05/07 Update)


6. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda



7. Commission Exchange



8. Recess Wednesday Portion of Meeting



> 8:30 a.m., Thursday, June 14

9. Items Requiring Action
   
   
   1. Final Rules
   
   (1) Blue Crab (Background Report  5/08/07)  (Background Report  5/10/07) (Background Report 6/05/07 Update)
   
   The following rules have been advertised to extend the existing moratorium on implementing the Blue Crab Effort Management Program in the event the legislation authorizing the fees and penalties for the Program is not approved in the 2007 Legislative Session.
   
   
   1. 68BER07-01, Emergency Reinstatement of Blue Crab Endorsement, Moratorium and Suspension of Implementation of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program-The proposed emergency rule would continue the moratorium on issuance of new blue crab endorsements from July 1, 2007 until proposed rule 68B-45.004 (below) becomes effective.
   2. 68B-45.004, Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear-The proposed rule would continue the moratorium on issuance of new blue crab endorsements until July 1, 2008.
   3. 68B-45.007, Blue Crab Effort Management Program-The proposed rule would delay the implementation of the Blue Crab Effort Management Program until July 1, 2008, delay the requirement of blue crab trap tags until July 1, 2008, and reset all program dates back one year.
      
      The following rule has been advertised to implement the Blue Crab Effort Management Program in the event the legislation authorizing the fees and penalties for the Program is approved in the 2007 Legislative Session.
      
      68B-45.007, Blue Crab Effort Management Program-The proposed rule would change endorsement and appeal application dates to implement the Blue Crab Effort Management Program.
   
   
   
   (2) Snook (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/15/07) (Background Report  5/10/07 Update) (Background Report  6/12/07 Update 2)
   1. 68B-21.0015, Definitions-The proposed rule would clarify the two regulation zones (Gulf and Atlantic) for snook.
   2. 68B-21.003, Prohibition on Sale of Snook-The proposed rule would update a reference to the rule governing snook aquaculture Special Activities Licenses.
   3. 68B-21.004, Seasons-The proposed rule would reduce the length of the existing open season for snook on the Gulf coast by eliminating the first half of December and the month of February. The effect of this change would be an open season for snook on the Gulf coast consisting of March, April, September, October and November.
   4. 68B-21.005, Size Limits-The proposed rule would adjust the legal size limit for snook on the Gulf coast from 27-34" to 28-33" and on the Atlantic coast from 27-34" to 28-32."
   5. 68B-21.006, Bag and Possession Limits-The proposed rule would decrease the daily bag limit for snook on the Atlantic coast from two fish to one fish.
   6. 68B-21.007, Restrictions on Gear and Methods Used to Take Snook-The proposed rule would allow the possession of multiple cast nets on board a vessel while fishing for snook.
   
   
   2. Draft Rules
   
   
   
   1. Trap Retrieval and Trap Debris Removal (Background Report 5/08/07) (Background Report 6/05/07 Update)

      (a) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B-55.001, Definitions-The proposed draft rule would revise the definition of "derelict trap" to account for the fact that blue crab traps will now be marked with tags like those used on lobster and stone crab traps rather than identification tags. (This proposed draft rule would only be considered if the legislation authorizing the fees and penalties for the Blue Crab Effort Management Program is approved in the 2007 Legislative Session.)

      (b) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B-55.002, Retrieval of Trap Debris-The proposed draft rule would exempt local, state, or federal government personnel from acquiring Commission approval before removing trap debris from areas where trapping is prohibited.

      (c) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B-55.004, Retrieval of Derelict Traps-The proposed draft rule would exempt local, state, or federal government personnel from acquiring Commission approval before removing traps or derelict traps from areas where trapping is prohibited.

      (d) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B.55.005, Recovery of Traps in Area of Major Natural Disaster-The proposed draft rule would provide a mechanism to enhance the capability of trappers to recover lost traps following a major storm.
   
   
   
   2. Blue Crab
   (Background Report  5/08/07)

   (a) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B-45.002, Definitions-The proposed draft rule would modify the definition of a fold-up trap to allow more flexibility in the size and shape of traps that may be used. (Background Report  6/01/07) (Background Report  6/05/07 Update)

   (b) Review and discussion of draft rule 68B-45.004, Regulation and Prohibition of Certain Harvesting Gear-The proposed draft rule would provide more flexibility in the allowable size and shape of fold-up traps.
   
   

   3. Boating Restricted Areas - Withlacoochee River (Background Report  5/08/07) (Background Report  5/08/07)
      
      Review and discussion of draft rule 68D-24.109, Withlacoochee River Boating Restricted Area-The proposed draft rule would revise speed and operational regulations for vessels on or adjacent to the Withlacoochee River in Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties during flood conditions.
   
   
   3. Issues
   
   
   
   1. Update on red drum issues and possible rule changes. (Background Report; 5/08/07) (Background Report 6/12/07 Update)
   2. Update on the progress of the Spiny Lobster Advisory Board. (Background Report 5/08/07) (Background Report 5/08/07 Update) (Background Report 5/08/07 Update 2)
   3. Update on the anchoring and mooring issue and recommendations received from the public workshops.
   (Background Report 5/08/07)
   
   
   4. Federal Issues (Background Report  5/08/07)  (Background Report  6/21/07 Update)
   
   
   
10. Commissioners' Areas of Emphasis
    
    Final consideration of the vision document for the Future of Saltwater Fishing in Florida
(Background Report  5/08/07)


11. Legislative Report
(Background Report 5/15/07)


12. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda



13. Commission Exchange



14. Commission Administrative Matters



1. Review and approval of proposed 2008 Commission Meeting Dates.
(Background Report 5/22/07)
2. B. The next regular Commission meeting will be held September 12-14, 2007, in St. Petersburg commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.



15. Adjournment