Outdoors news and notes

FWC

Non-Native Pet Owners offered Amnesty Days

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday adopted new rules that provide options for unpermitted owners of non-native species if they can no longer keep their pets. The commission hopes to prevent the release of non-native species into Florida's fragile environment. The FWC requires a captive wildlife permit to own many non-native species, including Class II and III wildlife, venomous reptiles and the six species designated as reptiles of concern. The new rule allows, at FWC-sponsored amnesty events, owners of unpermitted fish and wildlife to surrender their animals, and for adopters to accept nonnative fish and wildlife from unpermitted individuals, without penalty. This addition is an exemption from the current rule that prohibits transfers of wildlife of any kind when permits are required. The new rule also allows state and county animal control agencies to accept unpermitted nonnative animals, with the owners allowed to surrender those animals to the agencies without penalty. The next pet amnesty day is Nov. 22 at the Jacksonville Zoo.

Changes target 'jacks, triggerfish

The FWC on Thursday proposed raising the minimum harvest size for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf of Mexico state waters. The FWC is proposing these rule changes to be consistent with new regulations in Gulf federal waters, which extend beyond 9 nautical miles offshore. Federal fisheries managers recently implemented a stock rebuilding plan for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in Gulf federal waters. Greater amberjack in the Gulf are considered to be overfished (low stock abundance) and undergoing overfishing (excessive harvesting pressure), and gray triggerfish in the Gulf are considered to be undergoing overfishing. The FWC wants to increase the recreational minimum harvest size for greater amberjack from 28 to 30 inches (fork length) and increasing the commercial and recreational minimum harvest size for gray triggerfish from 12 to 14 inches (fork length) in Gulf state waters. A final public hearing on the amendments will be held in December in Key West.

Check it out

Florida Sportsman Magazine will hold its ninth annual fishing and boat show on Saturday and Sunday at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. The festival will feature not only boats of all kinds, but tackle, fylcasting and cast net lessons and a 500-gallon saltwater aquarium. The event starts at 10 a.m. both days and ends at 6 p.m. on Saturday, 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information, cal (813) 622-7275.

Fishing event built around family time

The Kiwanis Club of Seminole is hosting a family fishing day from 8 to 11 a.m. Oct. 4 at Taylor Park in Largo. Tackle and bait are provided, but anglers can bring their own gear as well. For information, call (727) 464-3347.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer