FWC to hold meetings on coastal conservation

For immediate release: October 10, 2011
Media contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525

FWC to hold meetings on coastal conservation
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative is holding public meetings in Crystal River on Oct. 20 and 21 and in Perry on Oct. 24 and 25.

The Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative is a new, comprehensive strategy for approaching wildlife conservation issues in the coastal areas of Florida.

Those with interests or a stake in coastal issues in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, or Pasco counties are encouraged to attend one of the Crystal River meetings. Those in Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor and Dixie counties are encouraged to attend one of the Perry meetings.

The FWC will hold a morning and evening session in each location. Both will cover the same topics. Participants can attend whichever is most convenient.

The meetings in Crystal River will be at the Crystal River Preserve State Park, 3266 North Sailboat Ave. The Oct. 20 session is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the Oct. 21 session is from 9 a.m. to noon.

The meetings in Perry will be at the UF-IFAS Taylor County Extension, 203 Forest Park Drive. The Oct. 24 session is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., while the Oct. 25 session is from 9 a.m. to noon.

Attendees are asked to register online in advance of the meetings by going to MyFWC.com/Conservation and selecting “Coastal Wildlife” under “Special Initiatives.”

FWC staff will present an overview of the initiative and its partnership strategy and ask attendees to identify pressing coastal conservation issues in their area. Staff will discuss gaps in research, education, management and regulation that stand in the way of resolving those issues.

“The CWCI’s vision is to ensure the long-term conservation of native wildlife in balance with human activities in coastal ecosystems throughout Florida,” said Blair Hayman, Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative coordinator.

“There are critical, immediate, as well as long-standing coastal wildlife conservation issues that could be addressed more effectively through the cooperative efforts of a partnership rather than by individual agencies or entities,” she said.

For more information on the Coastal Wildlife Conservation Initiative visit MyFWC.com/Conservation or contact Blair Hayman, at 386-758-0525 or Blair.Hayman@MyFWC.com.