Status of Active CWT and DFO Projects
Conserve Wildlife Tag Grants
April 30, 2009
Project Number: CWT 0708-05
Project Name: Community bear restraint container program
Grant Amount: $61,000.00
Project Manager: David Telesco
Status: The FWC's Bear Management program received this grant to develop and implement a program that would recruit and train community advocates. Theses advocates will act as stewards to minimize the negative impacts of human-wildlife encounters in targeted communities. The main components are the purchase of new or retrofitted trash containers at priority locations, distribution of new or improved information materials, and an implementation of a monitoring process for the project.
The project remains on schedule. The original project manager, Stephanie Simek, left the FWC to continue her formal education. David Telesco has taken over her responsibilities and is working hard to bring this project to completion.
The project has accomplished the following milestones over the past year:
- 24 wildlife resistant refuse cans donated to residents during three separate "Bear Days," 48 retrofit kits were distributed and two trash can caddies were built.
- Recruited and trained a grad student from FSU to create a database of civic organizations on black bear "hot spots" - and to approach civic groups about partnering with FWC to provide bear-resistant caddies and retrofit cans as service projects.
- Held a number of meetings with AFB personnel, waste service providers, local governments, and residents to discuss wildlife resistant containers and attractant removal.
- Participated in regional festivals to demonstrate wildlife resistant container options and recruit volunteers to build caddies.
- Discussed an implementation plan with Waste Pro to replace old canisters and service new bear-resistant cans in Franklin, Gulf and Wakulla Counties. Drafting similar plans with other providers.
- Modified the design of the retrofit kits for residential cans. Purchased and assembled 220 kits for distribution.
Project Number: CWT 0708-06
Project Name: Restoration, monitoring and management of boat propeller scars in St. Andrew Bay, Florida
Grant Amount: $18,072.00
Project Manager: Chris Gudeman
Status: The FWC is partnering with the Florida Park Service, DEP Aquatic Preserve staff, and Bay County to restore boat propeller scars in sea grass beds. Restoration involves placing sediment tubes in propeller scars to raise the scar elevation and promote the growth of new sea grasses.
Restoration was completed in December of 2007. The remaining project time is devoted to monitoring project areas to determine whether sea grass is growing in the restored scars and to studying the deterrent value of non-regulatory sea grass markers (signs) to protect sea grass beds from further scarring.
Project Number: CWT 0809-01
Project Name: One year continuation of two nongame wildlife grants
Grant Amount: $47,834.00
Project Manager: Stuart Cumberbatch
Status: This project was approved as part of the "block grant" given to support core non-game programs that were at risk due to funding restrictions as a result of the state's economic downturn. A shortfall in the non-game trust fund necessitated cutting $47,843. The FWC uses part of this trust fund to offer a non-game wildlife grants program. The program makes multi-year grants for ongoing research projects. Some of these projects were in jeopardy.
This particular CWT grant project enabled the continued support of two non-game wildlife projects. One is a project to determine how to help Scrub Jays survive in suburban areas and the other is to determine causes for the decline of the Great White Heron in Florida. Both projects are progressing and should be complete by June 30th of this year.
Project Number: CWT 0809-02
Project Name: Bring back the red cockaded woodpecker through FWC's Safe Harbor Program
Grant Amount: $50,000.00
Project Manager: Robin Boughton
Status: This project was also approved as part of the "block grant." Florida's Safe Harbor program is a voluntary program designed to involve private landowners in the recovery of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker. The grant funds support the employee responsible for Safe Harbor. This employee produces informational materials, meets with landowners to recommend conservation actions, and assists landowners in understanding the legal Safe Harbor agreement.
The FWC entered into the Safe Harbor program with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The USFWS provides assurances that landowners will face no additional regulatory restrictions on their property if they are able to increase woodpecker populations.
Since the last report, the first Safe Harbor agreement has been completed. Several more are in process. FWC staff has been actively promoting the project through correspondence with partners, participation in outreach events and publications in trade journals. Staff also assisted in the capture and translocation of red cockaded woodpeckers out of the Osceola National Forest.
Project Number: CWT 0809-03
Project Name: Nongame wildlife conservation throughout Florida
Grant Amount: $160,000.00
Project Manager: Terry Doonan
Status: This is the third project approved as part of the "block grant." This grant provides three regional OPS positions, plus a portion of related operating cost. This staff is key to implementing the FWC's species management plans at the local level. This staff manages non-game species with an emphasis on imperiled species management and conduct regional conservation projects.
Since the last report, a number of goals have been addressed. Following are a few highlights:
- Staff provided technical assistance to FWC staff, partner agencies and other public & private stakeholders.
- Reviewed and processed permit applications on issues expected to affect selected non-game wildlife species.
- Continued management of FWC's critical wildlife areas.
- Provided assistance to DEP in reviewing permit applications for impacts to non-game wildlife species.
Project Number: CWT 0809-04
Project Name: Assess internet traffic of regulated fish and wildlife
Grant Amount: $37,500.00
Project Manager: Scott Hardin
Status: This grant will allow the FWC to contract with North Carolina State University to subscribe to a custom internet search engine. Law enforcement staff will use this as a tool to help stem the flow of illegal captive wildlife sales and transportation via the internet.
The contract was signed in the fall and the project is progressing.
Project Number: CWT 0809-05
Project Name: Community-based approach for human-bear coexistence
Grant Amount: $45,000.00
Project Manager: David Telesco
Status: The FWC's Bear Management program received this grant to develop a pilot "Community-Based Management Program" that will engage local citizens, businesses, and our government in developing community-level advocacy for bears in areas of Franklin County, Florida.
David Telesco took over responsibility for this project after Stephanie Simek left the FWC to continue her education.
Project Number: CWT 0809-06
Project Name: Microsatellite analysis of genetic variation in panhandle gopher tortoise
Grant Amount: $12,700.00
Project Manager: Joan Berish
Status: This grant-funded research will fill an important data gap in the FWC's gopher tortoise management plan. Genetic studies are important to re-stock some populations of tortoises. It is imperative to ensure that any restocking efforts are accomplished in a responsible, scientifically sound manner.
The FWC has sufficient genetic data from tortoise populations in peninsular Florida. However, it has very little data on tortoise populations in the Florida panhandle. This project aims to fill that critical data gap.
29 blood samples have been collected. This is between 30-60% of the target of 50-100 samples. The project manager has requested an extension of time to complete the project as cooler temperatures have kept tortoises in their burrows, thus making sample collection impossible.
Discover Florida's Oceans Tag Grants
Project Number: DFO 0607-04
Project Name: A pilot tagging study to determine movement, stock affinity and possible recruitment of common snook (centropomus undecimalis) in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys
Grant Amount: $7,500.00
Project Manager: Ron Taylor/Alexis Trotter
Status: The goal of this project is to determine whether or not adult snook move between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. This is accomplished by enlisting expert anglers and professional fishing guides to capture, tag, and release snook. By recording when and where a snook was tagged and recaptured, researchers can determine whether snook migrate between the Gulf and Atlantic, and if so, at what rate. This information will aid FWC leaders in making decisions as how to best manage the Atlantic and Gulf stocks.
740 snook have been tagged thus far. The staff are beginning to record recaptured snook. Although the recapture rate is low (46 snook), staff are noticing some interesting movements. Snook that were tagged in Florida Bay are being recaptured in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys. The project is on schedule and should be completed in June.
Project Number: DFO 0708-05
Project Name: Diagnostic necropsies of stranded right whales
Grant Amount: $6,000.00
Project Manager: Tom Pitchford
Status: This is the first of two projects to benefit from generous donations by the Flowers Family Foundation. The FWC used funds from NOAA to purchase a trailer to use in response to right whale mortality events. The Foundation used a combination of tag funds as well as a donation from the Flowers Family Foundation to equip the trailer for on-site whale necropsies. Funds will also be used for costs related to traveling to mortality events.
The project was extended through this year. Fortunately for the whales, but unfortunately for the project, there were very few mortality events last season. Funds were to be used to respond to whale mortalities in January-March 2009. We are awaiting data on this recently-concluded season.
Project Number: DFO 0809-01
Project Name: Support for marine hatcheries initiative
Grant Amount: $30,000.00
Project Manager: Luiz Barbieri
Status: This project was given to the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to support fund raising, marketing, and promotional efforts associated with the FWC Saltwater Hatchery and Habitat Initiative. The initiative represents a large-scale collaborative effort to develop a statewide network of interdisciplinary facilities centered on sport fish hatchery production and coastal habitat restoration. Marine science education, community outreach, and recreation are expected benefits as well.
This project "hit the ground running." Project managers received approval to commence activities immediately upon award.The staff has worked with a number of partners to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative. While the grant funds are nearly spent out, the work of this initiative will continue.
Project Number: DFO 0809-02
Project Name: Boating and angling guide to St. Johns and Flagler counties
Grant Amount: $5,000.00
Project Manager: Chris Anderson
Status: The FWC, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, has produced twenty- three Boating and Angling Guides over the past several years. The Foundation has assisted with funding a number of these guides. The guides provide maps, fishing regulations, locations of ramps, and marinas, as well as conservation information. The guides are targeted to recreational boaters in a specific region.
This particular guide covers St. Johns and Flagler counties. Work on this guide commenced in July and is progressing toward a final product by June 30, 2009.
Project Number: DFO 0809-03
Project Name: Evaluation of reef fish within Dry Tortugas
Grant Amount: $8,500.00
Project Manager: Mike Feeley
Status: This grant was awarded to the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to monitor the movement and spawning patterns of adult snapper and grouper in the Dry Tortugas. These fish tend to congregate in large groups when spawning and this makes them vulnerable to overfishing, which can result in a decline in these species.
Project work commenced in July, 2008. This included deployment of acoustic receivers to capture movement of fishes and tagging of individual fish. Staff collected data on the movement of tagged fishes. Hurricane Ike knocked over many of the receivers and five of the receivers were moved to deeper water to buffer them against future storms.
Project Number: DFO 0809-04
Project Name: Bringing the FWC mission to the Florida Keys classroom
Grant Amount: $7,500.00
Project Manager: Dave Eaken
Status: The FWC's South Florida Research Lab received this grant in order to implement a marine education program in Monroe County schools. Currently, no such program exists.
The goal of the education program is two-fold:
1. to educate students on how their community depends upon the marine ecosystem
2. to promote the mission of the FWC (managing fish and wildlife resources for their long term well-being and for the benefit of people)
Staff are very pleased with the progress. Teachers have been extremely accommodating. The project goals have been achieved as of this quarter, but staff will continue to build on the momentum established.
Project staff visited Marathon High School ten times since January, delivering 52 presentations and they have visited every science class twice. The first presentation was to deliver "An Introduction to the FWC." The second presentation covered research programs at the South Florida Regional Lab. With parental permission, six students accompanied staff aboard research vessels to collect data from spinal lobster larvae collectors.
Project Number: DFO 0809-05
Project Name: Photo identification of north Atlantic right whales in northeast Florida
Grant Amount: $5,000.00
Project Manager: Tom Pitchford
Status: This is another project funded by a generous donation from the Flowers Family Foundation. The FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute requested this grant in order to purchase a camera and related equipment to be used in photo identification of North American right whales. This specialized equipment will allow FWC scientists to get details from individual specimens at high resolution over a long distance. This permits an accurate identification of whales.
FWC scientists will perform the initial photo identification. Then, photos will be submitted to the New England Aquarium, which is home to the North American Right Whale Catalog. The New England Aquarium will confirm the identification and include the specimen in the catalog.
