FWC TAKES NEXT STEP IN REVIEW OF IMPERILED SPECIES

June 15, 2005
Contacts: Kim Jamerson (850) 519-5111
Dan Sullivan (850) 410-0656 x17322

Panel biographies (Word documents)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving forward with its review of listing petitions for four species. At its meeting today in Daytona Beach, the Commission approved staff-recommended biological review panels and established deadlines for completion of biological status reports for the bald eagle, gopher tortoise, manatee and Panama City crayfish.

The biological review panels will be responsible for conducting a biological assessment of their respective species. They will bring together the most up-to-date data and run that data through the state’s recently-updated imperiled species listing criteria to determine whether a species should be classified as endangered, threatened or species of special concern. The biological review panels will also examine threats to the species and, when biologically justifiable, may recommend a different classification.

Panel members include biologists knowledgeable of the species from the FWC, other federal and state agencies, universities and private groups and organizations. An FWC biologist will chair each biological review panel (Click here to see list).

“FWC staff searched for qualified, impartial candidates representing a broad base of experience,” FWC Chairman Herky Huffman said. “As a result of their efforts we have a set of high-quality, well-diversified biological review panels.”

The panels will complete their biological status reports by June 2006.

More information about the imperiled species listing process is available on the Web at MyFWC.com/imperiledspecies.

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