FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Monthly Highlights

Be a citizen-scientist during horseshoe crab spawning season Spring is peak mating season for horseshoe crabs, and biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourage sighting reports with the new FWC Reporter application.   Horseshoe crabs mate year-round, and it is most common to see groups along the shore in March and April. To identify mating pairs, look for a smaller male on top of a larger female. Beachgoers will likely have the best luck spotting horseshoe crabs around high tide, within three days of a full or new moon. The next full moon is Sunday, April 29th.   You can report sightings many ways: FWC Reporter app, Email: horseshoe@MyFWC.com or Phone: 866-252-9326 or Online: bit.ly/1Nxgn0b New on MyFWC.com/Research Internship Opportunities Red Tide Current Status Manatee Mortality New Publications Snook Anglers Asked to Help with Research Commercial Fisheries Application and Map Product Articles The Horseshoe Crab Fishery in Florida Brochures and Videos Sharks and Rays Social Media Corner  New on YouTube: FWC and St. Johns County Sheriff's Office responded to a manatee stranding in Vilano Beach.  You can help manatees! Florida residents can purchase a Save the Manatee specialty license plate.  Flickr Favorite: Our Fisheries Biology and Fisheries-Independent Monitoring (FIM) programs are involved in a cooperative study to examine the effects of the 36-year closure and re-opening of Joe Bay, to public, non-motorized access and catch-and-release fishing.    From Facebook: Hurricane Irma caused substantial damage to FWC’s in-water coral nursey in the Florida Keys. The storm destroyed coral “trees” hosting hundreds of coral colonies and completely buried colonies attached to concrete blocks on the ocean floor.

Instagram Favorite What is it?  A lobster. Phyllosoma is the larval stage of lobsters. The name is derived from the Greek words phyllon, leaf, and soma, body. They are unusually large, flat, transparent and unique among crustacean larvae. It’s said to be the longest-lived larvae in the ocean and can span the entire Caribbean on its way to settle in Florida. After passing through many phyllosoma stages, the larva goes through a final molt, shedding its long legs and wing-like body, transforming into a transparent postlarval lobster, called a puerulus, that migrates from offshore waters and settles into the shallow-water habitats. Our Mission Through effective research and technical knowledge, we provide timely information and guidanceto protect, conserve, and manage Florida's fish and wildlife resources.

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The Laundry Project is returning to Apalachicola this Saturday.

The Laundry Project is returning to Apalachicola this Saturday.

This is the fourth year the program is being held in Franklin County – it is sponsored by the realtors association of Franklin and Gulf counties.

The Laundry Project was started in Tampa as a way to help struggling families wash their clothes and linens.

For the people served by the Laundry Projects, washing clothes is a financial burden.

As a result, they may be unable to do their laundry as frequently as they would like.

People who would like to take part in the Laundry Project should be at Croom's Mini Mall on Avenue I in Apalachicola on Saturday morning at 10.

There is no limit to how many loads can be done but they will be accepted on a first come first served basis.

The Laundry project provides all of the detergent, bleach, fabric softener and dryer sheets.

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold its eighth annual Outdoor Experience at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center in Jefferson County on Saturday

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold its eighth annual Outdoor Experience at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center in Jefferson County on Saturday.

The Outdoor Experience is for all ages.

The Outdoor Experience provides a safe environment, expert instruction, and gear and tackle so attendees of all ages can try activities such as archery, fishing and shooting sports stations.

There are also marine touch-tanks and hay rides.

Plus, attendees can watch World champion Randy Oitker demonstrate his archery skills and a trick shooting exhibition by renowned shotgunner Steve Gould.

The event is Saturday from 10 till 3, it is free.

The Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center is in Jefferson County on U.S. 19 just north of U.S. 27.

For more information on the Outdoor Experience, visit www.BTYCC.org.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY PET OF THE WEEK

PRECIOUS is a 3 year old Boxer mix and is perfectly wonderful. She is calm, docile and very social. She loves kids and other dogs but because she loves chickens a little too much, she was owner surrendered. Precious is spayed, heartworm negative and ready to go to some lucky someone's home.

Volunteers are desperately needed to socialize all of our dogs and

cats. We are always looking for people willing to bring one of our

animals into their home to be fostered for various needs. Anytime you

can spare would be greatly appreciated.

Call Karen at 670-8417 for more details or visit the Franklin County

Humane Society at 244 State Road 65 in Eastpoint. You may logon to

the website at www.forgottenpets.org to see more of our adoptable

pets.

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Franklin County sheriff's office releases identity of murder victim

The Franklin County sheriff's office has identified the young lady who was killed in Eastpoint on Sunday. Her name is Aileen Seiden. The name was being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. The Sheriff's department said they were able to locate her sister to notify her of the horrible incident.

Friends of Aileen Seiden said they will hold a vigil for her on May 3^rd in South Florida.

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Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce E-Newsletter for April 27th, 2018

   Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce E-Newsletter for April 27th, 2018 by manager2738 on Scribd

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The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about an ongoing phone scam

 The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about an ongoing phone scam.

The sheriff's office has received complaints about a scam in which an unknown individual impersonates a Deputy from the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office, who does not exist.

The unknown person identifies himself as “Lt. Johnson”.

The Scammer tells the victim they have a warrant for their arrest for failing to report to jury duty, and says they will be arrested if they do not pay $1000.00 using prepaid cards.

The sheriff's department said this is a scam – the department would never handle any situation like this.

This scam is not limited to Wakulla County – other departments have received similar complaints.

If you have been the victim of this scam, contact the Wakulla County Sheriff's office immediately.

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A project to renourish a section of Shell Point Beach in Wakulla County is now complete and the area is open to the public

 A project to renourish a section of Shell Point Beach in Wakulla County is now complete and the area is open to the public.

Shell Point Beach & Park in Wakulla County has been closed since January the 3rd for the beach renourishment project.

The 550 thousand dollar project involved the renourishment of the county owned portion of Shell Point Beach.

The funding came from Natural Resource Damage Assessment monies made available as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

The improvements include the placement of approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sand on the county owned section of the beach from an approved upland borrow area to restore the width and historic profile of the beach.

It also included installing an upland retaining wall and oyster shell breakwaters, and planting native dune vegetation to reduce wind-driven erosion while providing habitat and landscaping features.

Post and rope fencing, sand fencing and split rail fencing were also installed to direct pedestrian traffic and improve the look of the beach.

In addition to the beach work, Wakulla County also spent 78 thousand dollars from its one cent sales tax to resurface the roadway in front of the beach, installing traffic calming devices and installing a children's playground at the site.

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Students at the Franklin County School will not be required to wear school shirts for the rest of the school year

 Students at the Franklin County School will not be required to wear school shirts for the rest of the school year.

The student dress code has been a topic of concern in recent School Board meetings where administrators have discussed removing the requirement for school shirts for the

2018-19 school year.

The school agreed to remove the requirement for school shirts during May to give school officials the chance to see how it works out.

Franklin County Principal Jill Rudd said that the data collected should allow them to make an educated

decision about school shirts for the 2018-19 school year.

Even without the school shirts, student will be expected to dress appropriately and in a way that does not disrupt the teaching and learning environment.

Items that when worn together are usually indicative of gang memberships, or apparel that contains a message that is obscene, racist, or promotes illegal activities like drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products will not be permitted on school grounds or at school functions.

Clothing must not be sexually suggestive or feature crude or vulgar commercial lettering, printing, or drawings which would be offensive or insensitive to anyone on campus.

A full dress code has been sent home to parents of children attending the Franklin County School.

Students who dress in a manner inconsistent with the approved Dress Code Policy will be required to change clothes.

Students may be sent to In School Suspension temporarily as they wait for their parent to arrive with clothing that meets the dress code.

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Full Moon Climb at Cape St. George Lighthouse

The April Full Moon Climb at the Cape St. George Lighthouse on St. George Island will be held on
Sunday, April 29, 2018. The Sunset/Full Moon Climb will take place from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will include light hors doeuvres and a sparkling cider toast to the full moon. Because space is limited, reservations are recommended.

The sun will set at 8:15 p.m. and the “Pink” moon will rise at 8:05 p.m. on April 29. The April full moon is called the Pink moon in tribute to wild ground phlox, also called “pinks,” which is one of the earliest widespread flowers to appear in the spring. Full Moon names are attributable to native American tribes, most notably the Algonquin, who named the moons to mark the changing seasons.
After sunset, people without reservations are invited to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a
breathtaking view of the full moon, as space and time permit. 

Cost is $10.00 for the general public and $5.00 for SGLA members.

The Cape St. George Light is located in St. George Lighthouse Park at the center of St. George Island, where Island Drive (the road off the bridge) ends at Gulf Beach Drive. Parking is available in lots at either side of the park.

For reservations or more information, please contact the Lighthouse Gift Shop at 850-927- 7745.


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Franklin County unemployment rate fell slightly in March.

Franklin County unemployment rate fell slightly in March.

Franklin County unemployment was 3.2 percent last month, down from 3.5 percent the month before.

Only 3 of Florida's 67 counties had lower unemployment rates than Franklin County's in March.

150 people were looking for work in Franklin County in March, down from 164 people the month before while the workforce increased by 68 people.

Gulf County's unemployment also fell last month to 3.7 percent – there were 224 people looking for work in Gulf County in March.

Wakulla County's unemplyment rate was 3.3 percent.

Liberty County unemployment was 4.2 percent.

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NOAA Fisheries FishNews – April 25, 2018

April 25, 2018 HIGHLIGHTS NOAA Fisheries Celebrates Fish Migration Day In honor of World Fish Migration Day on April 21, we’re showcasing migratory fish facts and conservation efforts from sea to shining sea. 21 Migratory Fish Facts From river herring and Atlantic salmon to rainbow smelt, even the most die-hard fish fans will learn something new. How Do Scientists Know Where Fish Go? Acoustic telemetry—electronic tags that can be read by a receiver—helps researchers keep tabs on fish movement to learn more about where and when they migrate. West Coast Veterans Connect Fish to Upstream Habitat Veterans Corps programs in Washington and California are providing former service members with new skills and valuable job experiences as they help improve habitat connections for migratory fish populations. State-of-the-Art Fish Passage A recent collaboration between NOAA and 33 partners, years in the making, installed state-of-the-art fish passage along Oregon’s Clackamas River while maintaining hydropower generation for the surrounding communities. River Herring are Running It’s that time of year—river herring are returning to Northeast rivers and streams to spawn. Volunteers help NOAA Fisheries researchers count the returning fish. . Shrimp and Abalone in the Seafood Import Monitoring Program NOAA has lifted the stay on shrimp and abalone in the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program.  By December 31, shrimp and abalone imports will be subject to SIMP reporting requirements, further leveling the playing field for rule-abiding fishermen, aquaculture producers, and seafood producers around the world. West Coast Entangled Puget Sound Whale Largely Freed After Unusual Chain of Events A gray whale entangled in fishing gear in Puget Sound on April 13 was largely freed over the weekend after a response team fitted the whale with a tracking buoy, which then serendipitously caught on a yacht's rudder and pulled off some of the entangling fishing gear. Southeast Gulf Spill Restoration: Two Years after Settlement It’s been 2 years since the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (of which NOAA is one) settled with BP and began implementing their programmatic plan to restore the Gulf of Mexico. Read an overview of outreach, planning, and restoration work completed in 2017 or, for more detail, dive into the 2017 Restoration Project Data. Greater Atlantic Watch Out for Whales East of Boston NOAA Fisheries established a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone to protect a group of five right whales sighted 12 nautical miles east of Boston on April 18. This zone is in effect through May 3.   New Software Available for VMS-Equipped Vessels A new Vessel Monitoring System software release is now available to vessel owners and operators. This software update supports recent NOAA Fisheries regulatory actions, including Sea Scallop Framework 29. Northeast Observer Coverage Requirements The 2018–2019 Northeast Fisheries Observer sea-day schedule is now available. The schedule shows how many days fishery observers plan to cover to obtain discard estimates for 14 federally managed species groups and sea turtles. Effective monitoring programs are essential to understanding and managing fish stocks. Faces of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Meet John Kocik, the station director at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Maine Field Station in Orono. A supervisory research fish biologist, John leads the Atlantic Salmon Ecosystems Research Team. Events April 30 – May 4 Georges Bank Ecosystem Strategy Peer Review in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. May 3 Free Atlantic SharkIdentification Workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. May 7–21 Three free Protected Species Safe Handling, Identification, and Release workshops in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida. May 10 and 29 Two informational webinars on federal for-hire permit holders, hosted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Announcements April 26 Applications due for 2018 Chesapeake Bay Office Fisheries Science grants. May 4 Proposals due for recreational fishing education, outreach, and conservation projects in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. May 14 Pre-proposals due for 2018 Fisheries Innovation Fund. Federal Register Actions Visit regulations.gov for a list of only those actions open for public comment. Scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal Register online. Corrections or technical questions should be sent to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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