FWC & USFWS respond—Florida’s manatee facing crisis will get a bit of extra help

Manatee Eating — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: somdul The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced an expanded effort on Wednesday to respond to the ongoing manatee unusual mortality event along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Just in 2021, more than 1,000 manatees have died across the state of

Save the Turtles: Florida’s Largest Sea Turtle Rescue Organization will face 60% staff reduction due to FWC permit ruling

Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Julian Wiskemann Save the turtles is more than just a movement, it’s a lifestyle for many who put their life’s work towards saving the endangered species. According to a press release this morning from the Sea Turtle Oversight Protection (S.T.O.P), the organization revealed that on April 28, 2021, Florida Fish

First phase in lifting the 31-year ban on harvesting Goliath Grouper off Florida’s coast gets approved by FWC

Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Henry and Laura Whittaker Florida residents and anglers are one step closer to gaining approval to legally harvest Goliath Grouper off the coast, thanks to a new proposal by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The commission told its staff to draft an initial proposal that would outline

FWC reveals License-Free Fishing Days—First set of dates set for Easter Weekend

Mahi Mahi on a lure – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Jason Richeux Florida is home to some of the best fishing spots in the world. Whether you are looking to catch Mahi Mahi off the Florida Keys during the summer months, lobster during mini-season, Grouper almost year-round, or freshwater bass at a local lake—the

Florida invasive species battle continues as FWC bans “high-risk” reptiles from commercial breeding and pet ownership

Green Iguana – Courtesy: Image by Scottslm from Pixabay In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted on a new set of rules that would ban the commercial breeding practice and ownership of 16 “high-risk” reptiles in the state. The rule would allow current high-risk reptile owners to keep the

Popular Florida springs are closed due to large alligator following kayakers, according to the Forest Service

Alligator Florida Everglades — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Thierry Eidenweil The U.S. Forest Service said that officials had temporarily closed one of Central Florida’s most popular springs to paddlers due to a huge alligator that is acting aggressively. About 300 miles north of Miami, in the Ocala National Forest, the Juniper Springs watercourse is affected by

Florida’s Boater Freedom Act is signed by Governor Ron DeSantis

DeSantis signs Boater Freedom Act – Boat Show Courtesy: Shutterstock – Photo by Aija Lehtonen Panama City Beach, Fla. – The Boater Freedom Act, also known as Senate Bill 1388, was signed into law today by Governor Ron DeSantis. By prohibiting local bans on gas-powered boats, prohibiting arbitrary vessel safety inspections without a valid reason,

Florida sets 2025 Python Challenge dates—and it could help save the Everglades

2025 Python Challenge – Burmese Pythons — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Heiko Kiera As part of a larger conservation initiative to save the Everglades from invasive Burmese pythons, Florida wildlife officials have announced the dates for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission