FWC Public Survey on Nonnative Species
By USARK on November 28, 2018
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has posted an online survey (if you missed it previously on our website). It can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Non-Florida residents can complete the survey, too (the survey will ask if you reside in Florida). Please take the time to provide your input. We have a few notes below to assist.
LINK:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/JVNM78R
Below are some key points
The survey has three short sections.
Section A: Proposed additions to the Prohibited Species list
12. Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
Choose: Do Not Support
If FWC is going to regulate yellow anacondas, they should be placed upon the conditional species list with other nonnative constrictor snakes, not prohibited. This is an extensive regulation and private keepers must abide by the same rules as zoos. Listing this species as prohibited is overreaching.
10, 11, and 13: Beni anaconda, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, and brown tree snakes are not found in trade so their listing will not impact herpetoculturists.
Final comments for this section:
The yellow anaconda should, at most, be listed as a conditional species. Jumping to prohibited will yield unintended consequences and is nonsensical when they could be grouped with similar species as conditional.
Section B: Addition of Definitions to Rules Pertaining to Nonnative Species
Notes: While the definitions may be fine, it is the applications of the terms and definitions which can cause issues. For example, if keepers of conditional species must also be "commercial import or export businesses" there are several issues. For example, someone just beginning to breed green anacondas would need to buy and then raise the animals to maturity/breeding age. No import/export could occur for several years.
Section C: Criteria for Nonnative Species Importation Permits
This section proposes much greater regulation on the importation of nonnative species into Florida. The proposal would create a draconian and overbearing import permit process.