Photos available Freshwater fisheries biologists and managers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) successfully released 7,800 hatchery-raised shoal bass fingerlings (young fish) into the Chipola River on May 12. This is the …
National Safe Boating Week kicks off the summer boating season as an annual reminder for boaters to prioritize safety while enjoying recreational activities on Florida’s beautiful waterways. Florida is recognized as “The Boating Capital of the World” and …
Everyone’s favorite event of the year is back! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is excited to announce the 2023 Lionfish Challenge, sponsored by Zookeeper. As a Florida-based lionfish hunting gear and apparel outfitter, the …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is holding regional workshops to present information on opportunities for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises and other state-listed species in Florida. The goal of these workshops …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will present draft materials for the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area’s upcoming 10-year management plan at a public hearing in Taylor County on June 7, 2023. The public hearing will be held at 7 …
At its May 10 meeting in Miami, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule establishing designated anchoring areas in seven locations from the middle to the lower keys in Monroe County. The designated areas are at Fleming …
At their May meeting, Commissioners with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule changes to two fish management areas. The changes will establish Doral Glades Park as a new fish management area in Miami-Dade County. Doral …
At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed new management regions and regulation changes for snook. The proposed new regions would allow the FWC to better capture local differences in the fishery. The proposed …
At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) suspended proposed rulemaking discussions on goliath grouper spawning aggregation site protections with no plans to resume. The areas that were under discussion are open to …
At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule to modify recreational and commercial regulations for greater amberjack in Atlantic state waters. To provide additional conservation benefits and harvest …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to appoint Colonel Roger Young to the position of executive director. He replaces Eric Sutton, former executive director, who retired last December. Chairman Barreto touted Colonel Young’s …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Julie Carta as the inaugural recipient of the Sonya Rood Volunteer of the Year award at this week’s Commission meeting in Miami. The award recognizes one volunteer who demonstrates …
The Protect the Panther License Plate will soon have a new design featuring a stunning photograph taken by photographer Carlton Ward in 2018 of a now famous female and her kitten. The adult female panther pictured on the plate is well known because she is …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct aquatic plant control in portions of Lake Rousseau the week of May 15, weather permitting. The FWC will treat invasive hydrilla in the Citrus, Levy and Marion counties lake in areas …
On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, FWC responded to a report of an undocumented reticulated python in the vicinity of a captive wildlife facility in Broward County. Because Reticulated pythons are a nonnative invasive reptile on the FWC’s Prohibited species list …
Florida’s recreational and commercial stone crab seasons in state and federal waters will close May 2, with the last day of harvest being May 1. This annual season closure is intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the …
The following species will reopen to recreational harvest May 1 in Florida state and federal waters of the Atlantic: red porgy; hogfish; blueline tilefish; gag, black, red, yellowmouth and yellowfin grouper; scamp; red hind; rock hind; coney; and graysby. …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) thanks building owners for hosting shorebird and seabird species, such as black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers, that nest on their roofs from March through August …
The recreational harvest of snook in Gulf state and federal waters will close May 1 and will reopen on Sept. 1, 2023. This seasonal harvest closure occurs during peak snook spawning in the Gulf and is a management tool that helps to conserve Florida’s …
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, is eager to announce the winners of the Florida State Fish Art Contest this year. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade submitted their artwork in this …
