FWC ASKING ANGLERS “HOW’S THE FISHING?”

March 11, 2005
Contact: Bob Wattendorf (850) 488-0520

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC’s) recently restructured Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management is opening communication lines with anglers. The agency wants to learn more about what it would take to improve fishing opportunities here.

“We’re trying to evaluate the performance of the previous fisheries division over the past five years and find ways to improve it,” said Darrell Scovell, who heads the new division. “We hope to measure our progress, identify areas that need attention and work with communities to make things better.”

Scovell said the FWC is committed to conservation programs that are based on scientific research and produce the kinds of results anglers want to see.

As a first step in this process, the FWC is asking anglers to take part in a survey it has posted online at www.surveyroom.com/FisheriesInput/. Most people are able to complete the questionnaire in about 15 minutes. Responses and comments are confidential. Later, the FWC will publish a summary of what anglers say about the state of freshwater fishing here in the Fishing Capital of the World and what the agency needs to do to make it better.

In a second step, the FWC will host a series of public meetings to discuss survey results and develop plans and priorities for the future. Survey participants will be asked about their willingness to participate in a future planning meeting and about when and where such meetings should take place.

Deadline for completing the survey is May 1.

KP/hpc/CR

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