Walt Stearns
Contributor
December 10th, 2009 the FWC gave their approval to a draft rule to provide full protective status for lemon sharks in the State waters. If all goes well, the finial vote to make it regulatory will take place at their next meeting this February 2010. Once in, lemon sharks will be off limits to harvesting by both commercial and recreational fishing for good in Florida waters.
More on this is posted on Safe Safe Networks blog site - Shark Safe Network Blog
In addition to the sharks, we can also relay that the FWC still maintains Goliath groupers will remain off limits to harvesting, in spite of what the Gulf Council thought they were going to get, as well as we managed to remind just how bad fish traps are, further maintaining their stance that these things will never be re-allowed in state waters, as well sending letter to the Gulf Council that they SHOULD do the same.
This would not have been possible without the combine efforts and support from:
Dr. Gruber and his research team, the Shark Foundation (Shark Foundation - Foundation for research and the preservation of sharks), Shark Safe Network (Shark Safe Network - Real People Taking Real Action To Save Sharks), Oceanic Defense (Welcome to Oceanic Defense - Activation Through Education), Shark Savers (Shark Savers - Home), Reef Relief and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (index).
Also in attendance at commission meetings were members of both the recreational fishing and diving community, where we had the much appreciated support of local dive operators like Jim Abernethy (Bahamas & Palm Beach, Florida Scuba Diving :: Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures), Emerald Charters (scuba diving jupiter) and Jupiter Dive Center (Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.).
Proving, when just a few people put their mind to it, positive strides can be made for marine conservation.
More on this is posted on Safe Safe Networks blog site - Shark Safe Network Blog
In addition to the sharks, we can also relay that the FWC still maintains Goliath groupers will remain off limits to harvesting, in spite of what the Gulf Council thought they were going to get, as well as we managed to remind just how bad fish traps are, further maintaining their stance that these things will never be re-allowed in state waters, as well sending letter to the Gulf Council that they SHOULD do the same.
This would not have been possible without the combine efforts and support from:
Dr. Gruber and his research team, the Shark Foundation (Shark Foundation - Foundation for research and the preservation of sharks), Shark Safe Network (Shark Safe Network - Real People Taking Real Action To Save Sharks), Oceanic Defense (Welcome to Oceanic Defense - Activation Through Education), Shark Savers (Shark Savers - Home), Reef Relief and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (index).
Also in attendance at commission meetings were members of both the recreational fishing and diving community, where we had the much appreciated support of local dive operators like Jim Abernethy (Bahamas & Palm Beach, Florida Scuba Diving :: Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures), Emerald Charters (scuba diving jupiter) and Jupiter Dive Center (Jupiter Dive Center, Scuba diving lessons at a PADI 5 Star facility, daily scuba diving trips in Jupiter, Florida.).
Proving, when just a few people put their mind to it, positive strides can be made for marine conservation.
