State Fishes for Possible New Rules: Final FWC Session is Thursday Night in Middle Keys
By Kevin Wadlow, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon
Feb. 21–The Florida Keys may have already seen many of the fishing-related issues certain to plague the rest of the state in the near future, fishery managers say.
That’s one reason state Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff will be in Marathon Thursday for an open summit on the future of saltwater fishing in Florida.
“It wasn’t planned that the Keys would be the final stop in this series of meetings, but it’s appropriate in a lot of ways,” FWC outreach staffer Lee Schlesinger said.
“The Keys are a kind of microcosm for a lot of the issues that we’re seeing around the state now,” he said. “In things like habitat protection and waterfront access, the Keys already have experience.”
The open session will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Marathon Government Center.
Information from the meeting, and five others like it statewide, will be included in a report this spring to the full Conservation Commission board.
“We’re hoping this will serve as kind of a blueprint or map to where we want to be,” Schlesinger said. “For once, we’re not arguing over the specifics of a rule. People with a stake in commercial or recreational fishing or environmental protection can see how we can work together.”
“In some species, regulation can only go so far,” he said. “About the only way to reduce the bag limit for redfish or snook is to go to zero.”
Previous sessions have drawn from a dozen to nearly 40 people.
“One thing we’re hearing over and over from all sides is that it’s the habitat, stupid,” Schlesinger said. “”We have to be a better advocate to protect critical habitat.”
Keys charter captain Bill Kelly said local residents should take the opportunity to speak up.
“If you’re not part of the process, you shouldn’t complain,” Kelly said. “The [Conservation Commission] and federal fishery boards give a lot of weight to testimony from anglers and people who use the water.”
“Sometimes what they hear from staff as ‘the best available science’ doesn’t add up,” Kelly said. “They need to hear from people who know.”
The most effective way to make a point is to speak in person, and submit a copy of remarks and evidence in writing, Kelly said.
“There are a lot of issues that we still have time to address, everything from water quality to the loss of waterfront access,” Kelly said. “We need to speak up.”
The state has not used this process many times, Schlesinger said, but similar efforts have generated results – including creation of the first statewide marine regulatory agency, the Marine Fisheries Commission.
People also can comment by leaving remarks at the agency’s Web site at www.myfwc.com.
A vision statement for the future of fishing and five focus areas are outlined. The documents are available online at www.myfwc.com/marine/ workgroups/futureoffishing infl.html.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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