Flagler County is getting new manatee protection zones, which will be in effect from May 1 through Sept. 7 once signs are posted.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) worked closely with Flagler County and other stakeholders to establish zones on the Intracoastal Waterway that will improve manatee protection while limiting the impact on local businesses and boaters.

On Thursday, the Commissioners approved the new manatee conservation measure, which had been published and also discussed at a Feb. 29 public hearing in Bunnell.

“In summer, when the new manatee protection zones are in effect, the time needed for a boater to travel the entire length of the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County will increase by about 15 minutes,” said Kipp Frohlich, leader of the FWC’s Imperiled Species section.

There will be 2.7 miles of slow-speed zones on the 18.6 miles of Intracoastal Waterway channel within the county.

Manatee protection zones will be posted in these areas:

• near Hammock Dunes Parkway Bridge in Palm Coast;
• near Flagler Beach from the Highway 100 bridge to the Silver Lake area, including the Lehigh Canal; and
• in the vicinity of Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area.

Summer months are when manatees are most likely to be found in the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County, and that is also the time when increased boat traffic presents a greater risk of injury to manatees. As a result, the manatee protection zones in Flagler County will be in effect annually from May 1 through Sept. 7, to include Labor Day.

At its meeting in Crystal River, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) presented Lex Thompson of Tallahassee with the 2011 Landowner of the Year award for its Youth Hunting Program – a program aimed at providing quality hunting experiences for 12- to 17-year-olds to increase the number of youths involved in the tradition of hunting.

Thompson and members of the Gator Hammock Hunt Club in Wakulla County on the St. Marks River have provided the opportunity for FWC youth hunts for deer, wild hog and turkey on the property for the past four years, providing 10 hunts to 50 youth, and he already has three hunts scheduled for next season.

Thompson and members of his hunt club really enjoy giving opportunities to youth on their 3,000-acre Gator Hammock Hunt Club for the pure pleasure of seeing the kids’ smiling faces after their first hunt and harvest.

“Thank you for getting the next generation in the woods,” said Chairman Kathy Barco. “Landowners like you, who give time and resources to create these opportunities for our youth, are appreciated.”

“The property is really first-class and known for holding large populations of quality game, and it offers such amenities as lodging, a gun range, cleaning shed and comfortable shooting stands,” Youth Hunting Program Coordinator Kenny Barker said.

“Mr. Thompson and his hunt club members work extremely hard, acting as guides, cooks and, more importantly, mentors, to ensure the kids and their parents enjoy an experience they’ll not soon forget,” Barker said. “These guys are just really passionate about Florida’s great hunting heritage and do their very best to make sure that it’s passed down to the next generation.”

To find out how you can become a volunteer landowner or to learn more about Florida’s Youth Hunting Program, go to MyFWC.com/YHPF.

The Wildlife Foundation of Florida honored longtime Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist Ron Taylor with the 2011 Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award at the FWC Commission meeting Thursday in Crystal River.

Taylor has studied marine fisheries for the state for 35 years. He is the lead scientist for snook research in Florida and is noted worldwide as an authority on the sport fish.

Taylor’s research has led to many discoveries about snook. Among them, one he considers his greatest professional achievement, is finding that all snook are born as males and some later become females. This information is important to the management of the fishery.

Taylor continues to study snook today. His most recent work in rivers and on offshore reefs has provided valuable insight into the life history of snook species other than the popular common snook. Taylor’s research also has helped identify a new species of the fish in Florida: large-scale fat snook.

“Ron has dedicated his life to the study of marine fisheries in Florida, and snook in particular,” said Gil McRae, director of the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “His knowledge, passion and commitment to a team-based approach make him a major asset to the agency and well-deserving of this recognition.”

Taylor is noted by his colleagues as a great mentor and a popular presenter at scientific conferences and meetings. His love for his work has rubbed off on his son as well. Ron Taylor takes great pride in the fact that Josh Taylor has followed in his footsteps as a marine fisheries researcher with the FWC.

The Wildlife Foundation of Florida created the Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award in 1999 as an annual honor for an FWC employee whose dedication and service have made outstanding contributions to conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife. The award is named for the first female commissioner of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission who served from 1984 to 1999, including two terms as Chairman.

Louise Ireland Humphrey was an avid outdoorswoman and a dedicated participant in conservation efforts throughout the southeastern United States. Humphrey died in March at her home in Leon County, but her legacy lives on through this prestigious award.

On Wednesday in Crystal River the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved, with one contingency, the city of St. Petersburg’s proposed boating ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the FWC.

Local governments for the five communities participating in the pilot program are responsible for soliciting public input and adopting local ordinances within their jurisdictions. These ordinances must be approved by the FWC and will continue to be evaluated by the FWC and the Legislature. Since June 2011, when the final participant was selected for the program, FWC staff has been attending the sites’ public-input meetings to provide information on the pilot program.

“The city of St. Petersburg’s ordinance addresses local issues related to anchoring and mooring in the area, such as navigational safety, protecting marine infrastructure, promoting public access and deterring improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels,” said Maj. Jack Daugherty, leader of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section. “It also specifies penalties for violating the regulations.”

The ordinance prohibits hazardous vessels from anchoring in city of St. Petersburg waterways and prohibits any vessel from anchoring in a manner that would cause a navigational hazard or interfere with other vessels. It also restricts any vessel from anchoring within 200 feet of any marina or any publicly owned boat ramp. Anchoring is also prohibited in the Port of St. Petersburg, Central Yacht Basin and South Yacht Basin.

Commissioners discussed, asked questions and heard public comment, ultimately approving the ordinance with the contingency suggested by staff that no vessel shall anchor in Bayboro Harbor for more than 10 days out of any 30-day period. With this approval, the city can make the required changes and adopt the ordinance to make it effective. All ordinances adopted under the pilot program expire on July 1, 2014, unless re-enacted by the Legislature.

Public meetings have also been held in the other four participant sites: Monroe County, in coordination with the cities of Marathon and Key West; Stuart, in coordination with Martin County; and the city of Sarasota. The ordinances for St. Augustine have already been approved, and the developing ordinances from the remaining areas will be presented at future Commission meetings.

The goal of the anchoring and mooring pilot program is to explore potential options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the boundaries of public mooring fields. The FWC’s role is to provide consultation and technical assistance on the issues. For more information on the pilot program, visit MyFWC.com/Boating or call 850-488-5600.

The 2012 recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico state waters will be June 1 through July 10, a total of 40 days.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2012 season Wednesday, May 2, at the Commission meeting in Crystal River.

The state season is the same as the recently announced federal recreational red snapper season. The Commission also voted to keep a 40-day, June 1 through July 10 season regardless of whether the federal season is further shortened. Florida state waters in the Gulf extend out to nine nautical miles from shore; federal waters extend beyond that line.

Gulf red snapper stocks are rebuilding their numbers, but the stock needs higher numbers of older fish to be sustainable. Red snapper are estimated to live more than 50 years, but most fish in the current stock are only a few years old. Older fish are the key to rebuilding the population because older female red snapper produce more eggs than younger females. Shortening the fishing season in Gulf state waters and going consistent with the federal season will help continue to rebuild red snapper populations so that more red snapper fishing opportunities will be possible in the future.

“I think consistency is important,” said Commissioner Ron Bergeron. “The positive part is, looking at the recovery, we are going in the right direction in having long-term benefits for fishermen.”

More information about red snapper fishing is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Billfish anglers will no longer need to question whether the fish they just boated is a white marlin or the similar-looking and once-prohibited roundscale spearfish.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted Wednesday to allow harvest of the species in Florida state waters at its May 2-3 Commission meeting.

This change includes adding roundscale spearfish to the one-billfish bag and possession limit and the creation of a 66-inch minimum size limit when measured from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Roundscale spearfish harvest has been prohibited in state waters since 1999 because the fish rarely comes into Florida waters. State waters are from shore to three miles in the Atlantic and from shore to nine miles in the Gulf. Federal waters begin where state waters end. But the fish is often confused with white marlin. Genetic testing of tournament entries along the Atlantic coast shows that about 19 percent of tournament-winning white marlin were actually roundscale spearfish.

Federal fishery managers allowed roundscale spearfish harvest in federal waters off the coast of Florida but considered roundscale spearfish to be the same species as white marlin. Recently, the NOAA Highly Migratory Species Division, the group that makes federal management plans for species such as roundscale spearfish, determined the fish was a separate species and began managing it as such.

These federal and state changes will increase the amount of data collected on roundscale spearfish, helping the FWC and NOAA better understand the species and its role in our waters.

Angling for billfish? The best way to tell the difference between a white marlin and a roundscale spearfish is to measure the distance between the front edge of the fish’s anal fin (located on the underside of the fish, near the tail) to the vent. As shown in the photograph below, the distance between the anal fin and the vent is longer on a roundscale spearfish than it is on a white marlin.

The scales in the middle of the fish’s body are also different on the two species, with the roundscale’s being coarser in texture than those of a white marlin.

(Photos courtesy of NOAA Fisheries and NOVA Southeastern)

Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Regulations” and “Highly Migratory Species” to learn more.

The Florida Guides Association and Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Association on Wednesday honored three employees of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for their efforts to conserve marine life.

Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Association, recognized Jackie Fauls, with the FWC’s Office of Legislative Affairs. Fauls and the FWC partnered with the Keys group, Organized Fishermen of Florida, Monroe County State’s Attorney, House and Senate sponsors and the Governor’s Office to combat trap robbing and to develop solutions.

Capt. Pat Kelly, Florida Guides Association president, presented FWC Officer Randy Hart with the “Trained Eyes Coastwatchers” Officer of the Year award.

“Officer Hart is a dedicated, proactive officer,” said FWC Lt. Ed Prouty, Hart’s supervisor. “His desire to protect Florida’s fish and wildlife is outstanding.”

Hart recently exceeded his required vessel patrol hours while targeting illegal fishing activities, trap robbing and other violations and boating accidents.

“Officer Hart should be really proud,” Kelly said. “He’s one of the best.”

Also at the meeting, the Florida Guides Association presented Bob Muller, a biologist with the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), with the Capt. Phil Chapman Conservation Award.

“Muller has devoted countless behind-the-scenes hours to fisheries stock assessments,” Kelly said. “He is an absolute unsung hero, but his work results are vital to the resources of the state of Florida.”

Muller started the stock assessment group for the research arm of the agency more than 20 years ago. His work on assessments of snook, spotted seatrout, stone crab and a variety of other species has contributed greatly to the conservation of Florida’s fish stocks.

“Bob’s enthusiastic and thorough approach to his work is well-known by his colleagues,” said Mike Murphy, Muller’s supervisor. “His inquisitive nature and willingness to share his knowledge with others have made him a valuable part of FWRI.”

On the first day, following recognition of individual FWC employees for their marine fisheries conservation efforts, the focus shifts to the consent agenda, a report by FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley and staff updates on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

Items on the marine fisheries agenda include final approval of amendments that would set the 2012 Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper season, and three of the consent agenda items: the management of roundscale spearfish and language updates to reef fish recreational bag limits and to the Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program.

Roundscale spearfish harvest has been prohibited in state waters since 1999 because the fish rarely come into Florida waters. The consent agenda item on roundscale spearfish will align how Florida manages roundscale spearfish with recent changes to federal management efforts. The proposed final rule would allow harvest of roundscale spearfish, adding it to the marlin and sailfish one-fish bag and possession limit.

Also on the consent agenda are two draft rule items that propose updating rule language. These updates are part of a recent effort to clarify marine fisheries rules and make them easier to understand.

The first change will update the multi-day charter trip and off-water possession limits for reef fish. The Spiny Lobster Trap Certificate Program consent agenda item will make FWC rule match Florida Statute by shortening the length of time trap certificate fees can go unpaid before the certificate reverts back to the FWC and can no longer be reissued.

Hunting issues are also on the consent agenda. Staff will request approval of rules to expand gray squirrel season on private lands and, in concert with this change, to retain current gray squirrel seasons on wildlife management areas and environmental areas.

Next, the agenda turns to an anchoring and mooring pilot program ordinance for St. Petersburg. The city ordinance applies to anchoring or mooring non-live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of public mooring fields. Approval by the Commission is required before the ordinance can be enforced.

Following that, staff will report on wild hog management in Florida and how it provides for hunting opportunities and other tools to control feral hogs.

Before recessing the May 2 portion of the two-day meeting, the public will be invited to comment on items not on the agenda.

The second day also starts with recognition of conservation excellence and a presentation of a Youth Hunting Program Landowner of the Year award.

Next on the agenda is a proposed rule to establish new state zones that limit allowable motorboat speeds in portions of Flagler County from May 1 to Sept. 7, remove existing zones in Flagler County that are a part of the Volusia County rule, and provide a reference to the location of maps illustrating the zones.

An update on the Central Everglades Restoration Project is next, followed by other staff reports and public comment on items not on the agenda.

Anyone requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting should advise the FWC at least five calendar days prior to the May 2 meeting by contacting the FWC's Office of Human Resources at 850-488-6411. If you are hearing- or speech-impaired, contact the FWC using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (voice).

To see the full agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving ahead on its plan to manage and conserve Florida black bears so they are never again at risk of extinction. With the bear population rebounding from about 300 to 3,000 over the past 40 years, the FWC recognizes Florida’s conservation success with bears and recommends the state’s largest land mammal be removed from the threatened species list.

The Commissioners today (Feb. 9) discussed the draft Florida Black Bear Management Plan, a proposed black bear conservation rule, and heard public comments and suggestions. Final action on the draft bear management plan and rule was not taken today. The Commissioners are scheduled to take up a revision of the draft plan and the rule during their June meeting.

Pointing out a paragraph in the draft bear plan tracking the fall and rise of Florida’s bear population, Commissioner Brian Yablonski said, “We had 750,000 people in Florida in 1914 and we had roughly 3,000 bears, and here we are at the last data point in 2002 and we’ve got 17 million people in 2002 and about 3,000 bears. That’s an amazing success story. I think this is a very positive day.”

Commissioner Richard Corbett said, “The major focus is how we manage and protect with a major population increase of bears and a major population increase of humans.”

The draft bear management plan, released on Nov. 10, 2011, was followed by a two-month period of public input, which included public workshops in Bristol, Naples, DeLand and Gainesville. Floridians offered feedback at the workshops, online where the draft plan was posted at MyFWC.com/Bear, and by mailing written comments. About 2,500 comments were received from private citizens and stakeholder groups on the draft plan. Additionally, people had the opportunity to speak at today’s meeting.

The public commented on issues such as updating bear population estimates, reducing human-bear conflicts and continuing the review of land-use changes impacting bear habitat.

Members of the public also expressed opinions on whether to allow bear hunting in Florida and whether taking bears off the state’s threatened species list would impact bear conservation.

FWC staff is recommending following many of the public’s suggestions to change, clarify and improve the overall plan.

Commissioners also gave tentative approval to a proposed FWC rule that would make it unlawful to injure or kill bears, continuing protections similar to the ones granted to bears as a state threatened species. The rule additionally commits the FWC to working with landowners and regulating agencies to guide future land use to be compatible with objectives of the bear plan.

The draft plan proposes:

• Seven bear management units (BMUs)toreflect areas where Florida’s black bear populations are concentrated. The units would offer the opportunity for local input on managing bear populations and habitat. For example, the Central BMU, based in Ocala National Forest, has the largest estimated population of about 1,000 bears; the East Panhandle BMU encompasses Apalachicola National Forest, with roughly 600 bears; and the South Central BMU in Glades and Highlands counties has about 175 bears.
• Creation of “Bear Smart Communities” in areas of high bear activity. A “Bear Smart Community” would involve its residents, businesses, public agencies and schools in educating people about how to live in bear country and respond appropriately to human-bear conflicts.For example, the U.S. Air Force’s Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County switched to bear-proof garbage cans and dumpsters, instituted an active education program and trained personnel in appropriate responses to human-bear conflicts. After two years of these efforts, Hurlburt experienced a 70-percent reduction in human-bear conflicts.

The Florida black bear is among the 62 wildlife species that soon will join the list of species, like the bald eagle, already under an FWC management plan. Florida’s new threatened species conservation model requires that management plans be created for all species that have been state-listed and that plans be updated at specified intervals.

Those management plans give citizens an active role in Florida’s efforts to conserve its diverse wildlife for future generations.

For more information about bears, go to MyFWC.com/Bear.

Officer Duane North is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2012 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. North, who works in Volusia County in the agency’s Northeast Region, was recognized Thursday by Shikar-Safari Club International during the FWC’s Commission meeting at the Florida Public Safety Institute.

Shikar-Safari is a conservation-based organization that presents awards annually to wildlife law enforcement officers in all states, provinces and territories in the United States and Canada. The annual award honors a state officer whose efforts show outstanding performance and achievement among sworn fish and wildlife law enforcement personnel.

“It makes me proud to know that people like North are standing up for the traditions and values that are important to us as Floridians,” said Jim Harrison, representative for Shikar-Safari.

North arrested five people for drunk boating or driving in 2011 and cited or arrested numerous violators for felonies and misdemeanors. But, it is not writing tickets that made him an Officer of the Year.

North is an exceptionally well-rounded officer who consistently uses his skills and knowledge to make quality, FWC core-mission cases on land and water, his supervisors say. He inspires teamwork within his and other FWC squads, and with other agencies – local, state and federal. He fully understands the value of educating Florida residents and visitors about the state’s natural resources and boating opportunities, and the laws in place to protect them, and is often the first to step up to participate in outreach and education events.

“Officer North is proving to be one of the FWC’s most talented and capable officers. He has abundant energy and enthusiasm, and demonstrates his passion for being a fish and wildlife officer every day,” said Col. Jim Brown, director of the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “We are both fortunate and proud to have an officer of his caliber on the FWC team.”    

North has always had a passion for hunting, the outdoors and law enforcement and dreamed of becoming an FWC officer. He said he reached that goal in 2008 when he was hired as an FWC officer, patrolling the Volusia County portion of the St. Johns River. Prior to joining the FWC, North was a police officer with the Daytona Police Department and a deputy with Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2010, two years after joining the FWC, North transferred to his current position as part of a squad that patrols primarily on land. In his short tenure with the agency, he has become an exemplary officer and a leader among his peers.

Below are a few examples of his work:

• He arrested an individual who shot a decoy deer in the Tiger Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
• During a night hunting detail, he and a squad mate apprehended and arrested on felony charges two men who were stealing copper from utility poles in Lake George WMA.
• North issued citations related to antlerless deer and gopher tortoises, hunting turkey over bait and night hunting.
• While working a detail in Lake George WMA, he ran the tag of a hunter parked in the WMA. After checking the registered owner for the appropriate licenses, he noticed the subject was hunting with a guest permit associated with a known convicted felon. North then set up surveillance and waited until the convicted felon came out of the woods carrying a modern muzzleloader firearm. The individual was arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

North and his wife, Crystal, have three children: Christopher, 10; Matthieu, 4; and Brianna, almost 2. He enjoys the outdoors and likes to hunt and fish. But mostly, he says, he loves spending time with his wife and children.