Below is more information about the agency, including who leads it, how many staff the department employs, and what it does.
FAST FACTS
Budget: The FY 2024-2025 budget bill appropriated $590 million for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with an estimated $23 million IT budget, according to the Center for Digital Government.*
Leadership: Mike Turner is the agency’s chief information officer.
Staff: According to Senate Bill 5001, the Senate’s General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the agency has about 2,208 total positions.
MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY:
According to FWC’s website, the agency’s mission is to manage “fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.”
For FWC, this includes protecting more than 575 species of wildlife, 200 native species of freshwater fish and 500 native species of saltwater fish.
In terms of leadership, seven commission members are appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms.
Commission members meet four times a year and are tasked with exercising regulatory and executive powers of the state concerning wild animal life, freshwater aquatic life and marine life.
Overall, FWC encompasses five regional offices, 76 field offices and six divisions, including the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, hunting and game management, freshwater fisheries management, law enforcement, habitat and species conservation, and marine fisheries management.
As for technology, SB 5001 outlines the following funding for the commission:
- $2 million has been allocated to determine the scale and scope of ongoing fish mortality and disease events in Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. A portion of the allocated funding will be used to contract with a nonprofit organization and local fishing guides to assist with data collection and analysis.
- $1.1 million and $2 million have been allocated to “expand the management and contractual removal of Burmese pythons and other priority non-native fish and wildlife.” In terms of tech, funds may be used to research, develop and implement innovative technologies to remove non-native fish and wildlife.
- $44,760 has been allocated for 800 MHZ radio law enforcement system equipment and maintenance.
