Tag: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Cape Haze Coast Guard Auxiliary encourages non-alcohol boating

Operation Dry Water weekend, taking place July 4 to 6, is a national awareness and enforcement campaign focusing on reducing the number of alcohol-and drug-related incidents and fatalities and...

Public input on rules for Gulf lane snapper

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a series of public workshops to seek input on proposed rule changes for lane snapper in Gulf state waters. Staff will provide...

Fishing license free in June weekends

This summer’s license-free fishing weekends are on June 7-8 for saltwater and June 14-15 for freshwater. Residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the many recreational fishing...

Busy Memorial Day, but traffic just under last year on weekend

On Saturday, May 24, during the Boca H2O Festival, a teenage boy was struck by a boat propeller, breaking his leg. The festival is held in the water off the sandbar between Gasparilla Island...

EcoWatch: New trapping proposal flip-flopping at its best

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing to modernize rules to align with the updated methods, technologies and research in the Association of Florida and Wildlife...

Birds, paragliders fighting for shore leave

Charlotte County environmental specialists have posted a bird nesting area at the north end of Gasparilla Island in front of Island Court, but numbers have been unusually low due to human...

Reminder on manatee season from Florida Fish

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds boaters to go slow and keep an eye out for manatees as the slow-moving mammals naturally disperse from their winter refuges. ...

Red tide levels improve in latest state tests

The red tide conditions for Gasparilla Island waters have improved, with latest samples indicating background to low concentrations of Karenia brevis in the last week. As of Wednesday, Feb....

Red tide make for dead mullet

The island had a large number of dead mullet up and down the beach over the New Year, the result of a possible red tide outbreak offshore. “This is an unfortunate persistent presence of Red...

Wanderer in the State Park

Although dogs are allowed on some beaches, many do not allow dogs, such as those at state parks, including Gasparilla Island State Park. Occasionally, they do escape. Over 30 species of...