Florida Panther: What if you had a party September 2nd and nobody came? By Geniusofdespair

Panther deaths rose to 26 this year (it is only August), according to Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald Reporter. 17 deaths are from roadkills. One side says the number of panthers should be reduced because there isn't enough land for them. The other side (environmentalists) say that is just an excuse to get rid of panther habitat and open it up for development.  There are only 100 to 180 panthers left. Most dying are males looking for and fighting over habitat.

The (word Conservation is a major misnomer) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners are going to discuss the panthers' future. They picked a Godawful hour for the meetings but if you don't show, the panthers habitat will be toast... and then the panthers.

Stand up for the panther and go to the meeting! A lot of people showing up will help. You know ALL the people who want the land will be there.

Jenny supplied me with the meeting information (rarely do they meet this far South):

Time:    8:30am each day
Dates:    September 2 - 3, 2015  (IT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 2)
Place:    Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
1881 SE 17th Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 463-4000
www.fortlauderdalemarinahotel.com

Here are the Commissioners (don't blame me, I didn't vote for Rick Scott). They are not what you would want on this Committee protecting our wildlife (i.e. External Affairs Director of Gulf Power Company,  developers, rock miners, etc.) but it is what we've got...because of Scott. This is why you have to vote, Scott has fucked up so much stuff I can't even keep track.

Hit on their names to see their background. Also you can then email them about the panthers. But showing up is the best defense. Put September 2nd on your calendar.

Member	Current Term Began	Original Appointment	Term Expires
Charles W. Roberts III	Sept. 1, 2011	Sept. 1, 2011	Aug. 1, 2016
Aliese P. "Liesa" Priddy	Jan. 6, 2012	Jan. 6, 2012	Jan. 6, 2017
Ronald M. Bergeron	March 8, 2013	Aug. 6, 2007	Aug. 1, 2017
Adrien Bo Rivard	March 8, 2013	March 8, 2013	Aug. 1, 2017
Richard A. Corbett	March 8, 2013	February 2003	Jan. 6, 2018
Brian S. Yablonski	April 4, 2014	January 2004	Jan. 5, 2019
Richard Hanas	June 23, 2014	June 23, 2014	Aug. 1, 2017

Here is the AGENDA for both days:

Agenda
8:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Call to OrderCall to Order
Call to Order
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Administrative Matters
Review and Approve June 2015 Commission Meeting Minutes
Approve Regular Meeting Agenda
Approve Consent Agenda – Any item not approved as part of the consent agenda may be moved to the regular meeting agenda and would be considered prior to the open public comment section.
Executive Director’s Report
Chairman’s Report
Special Guest Speaker
Strategic Follow-Up
Future of Fish and Wildlife Conservation – Staff will make presentations on efforts to address and manage adverse human-wildlife conflicts
Pythons – Staff will update the Commission on the development of the 2016 Python Challenge, schedule to last one month starting in January, 2016. This update will include event dates and locations, rules, training and announcing the registration dates. - Memo | Presentation
Waste Management Efforts – Staff will provide an update on efforts made since the Commission adopted a waste management resolution and policy paper regarding keeping human attractants secure from black bears in order to reduce bear conflicts and improve human safety. - Memo
Habitat Conservation and Management – Panther – Staff will seek direction on a draft position statement addressing Florida panther recovery, management and strategic priorities. - Position Statement | Memo | Presentation
Items Requiring Action
Bear Harvest Objectives – Staff will seek approval of bear harvest objectives for the 2015 bear hunting season for the East Panhandle Bear Management Unit (BMU), North BMU, Central BMU, and South BMU. - Memo
2016 Budget Requests – Staff will present the FY 2016/2017 Proposed Legislative Budget Request information for approval. - Memo
2016 Legislative Requests – Staff will seek approval for the FY 2016/2017 Legislative Items. - Memo
Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida
Update
Mariana Jones Resolution
Commissioner Exchange
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Recess Wednesday’s Portion of the Meeting


8:30 a.m., Thursday, September 3, Reconvene

Call to Order
Awards and Recognition
Prosecutor of the Year Award
Florida Sportsmen’s Conservation Association Wildlife and Resource Management Award
Lifesaving Award
Habitat Conservation and Management – Everglades – Staff will update the Commission on developments in managing water levels and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration effort. - Memo
Staff Report – Lionfish – FWC held the first annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day on May 16, 2015. Staff will provide an update on the success of the outreach programs associated with this event, including the festival in Pensacola hosted by FWC and lionfish tournaments and removal efforts conducted by our partners and stakeholders throughout the state in conjunction with the event. - Memo
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) Report – Staff will report on actions from the GMFMC’s August 10 – 14 meeting in New Orleans, LA. Topics include: red snapper, gag grouper, and king mackerel. - Memo | Presentation
Items Requiring Action – 68D-24.020 Suwannee and Santa Fe River Boating Restricted Areas. The proposed rule amendment would remove flood zone restrictions on two remote stretches of the lower Suwannee River, divide the Santa Fe River into four independent flood zones, incorporate changes to federal gauge datum , and update maps to reflect changes in the restricted areas. Three public meetings were held prior to the Commission Meeting. - Memo
Staff requests approval to advertise the proposed amendment and file it for adoption if no additional hearing is requested.
Item Requiring Action – Final Rule – Great Barracuda. The Commission does not currently have any species-specific regulations for great barracuda. Staff will present a suite of proposed final rules that would establish conservation measures for great barracuda in South Florida. The proposed measures would be implemented in response to concerns about a localized decline of barracuda in the Keys and Southeast Florida. - Memo | Draft Rule
68B-60.002 Definitions (NEW) – The proposed final rule would define great barracuda as any fish of the species Sphyraena barracuda.
68B-60.003 Regional Size Limits (NEW) – The proposed final rule would establish a slot limit in the form of a minimum size limit of 15 inches and a maximum size limit of 36 inches that would apply to both recreational and commercial fisheries. These measures would only apply in state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.
68B-60.004 Regional Bag and Vessel Limits (NEW) – The proposed final rule would establish a daily recreational bag limit of two fish, a daily commercial trip limit of 20 fish, and a daily commercial vessel limit of 20 fish. These measures would only apply in state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.
General Counsel Report
Future Agenda Items
Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda
Commissioner Exchange
Commission Administrative Matters
The next Regular Commission Meeting is scheduled for November 18 – 19, 2015 in Panama City, Florida, commencing at 8:30 a.m. each day.
Adjournment

Consent Agenda

Update on early season migratory bird hunting regulations (dove, rail, gallinule, woodcock, snipe, and special early waterfowl seasons), and review and approval of anticipated late season migratory bird hunting regulations (regular waterfowl and coot season and limited Canada goose season) for the 2015-2016 season. - Memo

Agriculture Wildlife Best Management Practices (BMPs) for State Imperiled Species – In furtherance of the Commission’s November 2014 approval of amendment of Florida Administrative Code Rule 68A-27.007(2)(d) Permits and Authorizations for the Take of Florida Endangered and Threatened Species Commission staff have continued to work cooperatively with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, landowners, and other stakeholders to legislatively authorize, develop, and adopt BMPs to protect wildlife species. In June 2015, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services incorporated and adopted Agriculture Wildlife BMPs for State Imperiled Species in Chapter 5M-18 F.A.C. Staff is seeking approval to publish a Notice of Proposed Rule to add references to Chapter 5M-18 F.A.C. - Memo
NOTE: Staff is requesting Commission approval to advertise the proposed rule amendment and file for adoption as soon as possible. If the rule amendment is approved for both advertisement and final adoption, Commission staff will file the rule for adoption as allowed by s. 120.54(3) Florida Stat
utes, without further public hearing.

Final Rule Stone Crab Trap Gear Specifications – 68B-13.008 Gear, Trap Construction, Commercial Trap Marking Requirements, Trap Working Regulations, Trap Transfer – The proposed final rule would modify trap construction requirements for the stone crab fishery in Collier, Monroe, and Miami-Dade counties to ensure the traps are designed to target stone crab. Staff presented this draft rule at the April 2015 Commission Meeting. - Memo | Presentation

Shrimp Closure Modification – Staff will present a draft rule amendment to modify the boundaries of the area off northeast Florida that is open to the commercial harvest of food shrimp during April and May. The majority of the state waters portion of the east coast shrimp bed is closed to commercial harvest of food shrimp during April and May, but there is an exception that allows harvest in the outer most portion of state waters off the St. Johns River mouth, where the fishery in federal waters also operates. The proposed minor modifications to the western boundary line for the allowable harvest area would make it easier for the shrimp fishery in the region to operate without negatively impacting the shrimp resource.
68B-31.0156 Florida East Coast Shrimp Bed: Repeal of Section 370.156, Florida Statutes; Seasonal Food Shrimp Production Closure; Exception; Definition. – The proposed draft rule would expand the allowable fishing area slightly to make it simpler and more practical for the shrimp fleet to fish in the area. - Memo | Presentation

NOTE: Staff is requesting Commission approval to advertise the proposed amendment and file for adoption as soon as possible. If the rule amendment is approved for both advertisement and final adoption, Commission staff will file the rule for adoption as allowed by s. 120.54(3) Florida Statutes, without further public hearing

Repeal of 68A – 23.010 Disposition of Illegal Fishing Devices. Staff is proposing to repeal this rule in its entirety. Repeal of this rule will not have an impact on Law Enforcement’s authority to remove these fishing devices; they will continue to follow Florida statutes and General Order 16 for disposition. This is part of FWC’s continuing effort to review and repeal any unnecessary regulations. - Memo | Proposed Rule