By BONNIE BASHAM
FAA Lobbyist
As you read in the
previous story, it is critical that all sportsmen,
everywhere, help us defeat the “wilderness” designation
proposed by the National Park Service. In an effort to
keep the NPS from heading in this direction, last year
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) voiced strong opposition to any wilderness
designation. Yet despite the “cooperation” mandate, the.
National Park Service (NPS) ignored the FWC opposition
and included various levels of wilderness in every
alternative, including the Preferred Alternative.
WHAT CAN
YOU DO?
Marsh Rider urges all our readers to write to the NPS and urge them to respect the wisdom of
the FWC and the US Congress by providing traditional
cultural use of swamp buggies and airboats.
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=352&projectID=11164&documentId=27329
The NPS should drop proposals for wilderness designation
and treat the Addition as it was intended by Congress, as
an expansion of Big Cypress National Preserve. Comment
period for this latest set of proposals ends on September
30.
Marsh Rider expects this issue to be discussed at the
December FWC Commission meeting being held in Clewiston,
Florida.
In the meantime, sportsmen should look at the plan’s
alternatives and comment in the area provided at the Park
Service’s web site: www.nps.gov/bicy/parknews/preserve-addition-gmp-doc.
htm. Points to
include:
This area was never intended to have any “wilderness”
designation – it was intended for traditional gladesmen
activities including hunting, buggy and airboat access.
Sportsmen have been denied their rightful access for 20
years.
The area is a part of the Everglades park system and does
not need a separate management plan.
Designation of any “wilderness” areas will prevent the type
of habitat and critter management which is essential to
conservation of the area.
Creation of a separate management plan will result, among
other unintended consequences, in the necessity for two ORV
permits rather than one.
Urge the Park Service to follow the original intent of
Congress and advocacy of the FWC, sportsmen and
conservation groups to allow traditional, cultural use by
airboats and buggies; to drop proposals for “wilderness”
designations and to treat this area as it was intended by
Congress – a preserve created as an addition to the Big
Cypress Preserve.
SHORELINE FISHING
LICENSE
Florida’s new shoreline
fishing license requirement took effect Aug. 1. Resident
anglers fishing for saltwater species from shore or a
structure affixed to shore must have a $9 shoreline fishing
license or a $17 regular saltwater fishing license.
Nonresident anglers need a regular nonresident saltwater
fishing license to fish from shore or from a vessel.
Short-term and annual nonresident fishing licenses cost
between $17 and $47.There are exemptions for resident
anglers fishing in their home county, using live or natural
bait, on a line or pole without a line-retrieval mechanism.
This exemption does not apply to anglers who use nets,
traps, gigs, spears or who gather seafood by hand or any
type of gear other than hook and line.
Other exemptions apply for anglers who qualify for
temporary cash assistance, food stamps or Medicaid. Also,
resident anglers who are age 65 or older, children under
age 16 and active duty military personnel may fish without
a license while home on leave in Florida.
The Legislature created the permit to prevent the federal
government’s much more expensive license ($22.00) from
being forced on Floridians.
Photo by theodisia is
kluthphotos on flickr.com
AT RISK
SPECIES LISTING
During its September meeting, FWC Commissioners will be
discussing creation of a process to place Florida-Specific
critters on a list similar to the federal Endangered
Species List. Listing would be followed by a management
plan for the species.
This list could impact the future of hunting in Florida.
FWC
LISTENING SESSIONS
Over the summer, the FWC has held several “listening
sessions” with non-motor-powered vessel owners. FAA members
also attended these sessions to listen and learn what
safety and navigation problems these boaters feel they
face.
FWC plans to review the recommendations from each session
and publish those, perhaps as early as September.
FAA will continue to monitor this issue and remain actively
involved by attending future meetings.