The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
As of the first of June, it is clear that on 1 July 1999 a new Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) will be in place composed of the old Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and staff, Marine Fisheries Commission and staff, and elements of the Department of Environmental Protection, including elements of the Marine Resources Division, Marine Patrol, Marine Research Institute, Protected Species Section and up to 60 administrative support positions. A decision on the new Executive Director will be made after the FWC convenes.
After years, if not decades, of consideration, Florida is about to have one agency that is responsible for all of its animal resources. The Florida Constitution Revision Committee proposed a series of amendments to the Constitution which were presented to the general citizenry in the November 1998 election. Revision-5 dealt with several conservation issues and was passed overwhelmingly. Editorial support and support from the conservation community for this measure was extensive and led by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee. Source: Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Comm.
This is going to be a great help to all fishermen and Florida residents who love the outdoors in our state. With a unified effort of several agencies and a common leadership, we will see the resources that are allocated to preservation and protection of our outdoors, put to better use. Florida has had a hard working group of officers who have provided protection and enforcement for our wildlife and the facilities that allow everyone access to them.
These men and women have given their time and efforts in what has been very a effective program and has resulted in an even better world to enjoy our outdoor activities. The public has came to realize through the years that these officers are out there to serve and help everyone with enjoying the outdoors and to help make sure that our children will still have a place to enjoy them in future years.
The officers have always worked hard in the area of resource protection, but a vast majority of their time is spent providing many other services such as search and rescue, advising folks where they can go to enjoy and participate in outdoor activities, and watching for problem areas in our environment that might cause destruction or damage to the resource.
Their goal is to help everyone enjoy the vast resources of Florida and to make sure that the small group of people who would use illegal activities are stopped before they destroy the wildlife and habitat that so many residents and tourists use and enjoy. So the next time you see a GFC Officer out there just take time to say "Hi" and thanks for being there.
 Officers Gary Clark (lft) and Lt. Rick Lyman (rt) working a search and rescue of a recent plane crash |
copyright 1999 by Walt Reynolds