Designation of Threatened Species; Prohibitions; Permits

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68A-27.004: Designation of Threatened Species; Prohibitions; Permits

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 33 No. 32, August 10, 2007 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

68A-27.004 Designation of Threatened Species; Prohibitions; Permits.

(1) The following species, listed prior to June 23, 1999, are hereby declared to be threatened, and shall be afforded the protective provisions specified.

(a) No person shall take, possess, transport, molest, harass or sell any of the threatened species included in this subsection or parts thereof or their nests or eggs except as authorized by specific permit from the Executive Director, permits being issued only for scientific or conservation purposes and only upon a showing by the applicant that the permitted activity will not have a negative impact on the survival potential of the species.

1. Crystal darter (Crystallaria asprella)

2. Key silverside (Menidia conchorum)

3. Loggerhead seaturtle (Caretta caretta)

4. Bluetail mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus)

5. Sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi)

6. Key ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus acricus)

7. Rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica)

8. Short-tailed snake (Stilosoma extenuatum)

9. Florida brown snake (Storeria dekayi victa) (lower keys population only)

10. Florida ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus sackeni) (lower keys population only)

11. Eastern Indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)

12. Atlantic salt marsh water snake (Nerodia clarkii taeniata)

13. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

14. Southeastern American kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus)

15. Crested caracara (Caracara cheriway)

16. Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis)

17. Roseate tern (Sterna dougalli)

18. Least tern (Sterna antillarum)

19. White-crowned pigeon (Columba leucocephala)

20. Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)

21. Snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)

22. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)

23. Big Cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia)

24. Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) (other than those found in Baker and Columbia counties or in Apalachicola National Forest or which are held in captivity under permit)

25. Everglades mink (Mustela vison evergladensis)

26. Southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)

(2) The Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is hereby declared to be threatened, and shall be afforded the protective provisions specified in this paragraph. No person shall take, attempt to take, pursue, hunt, harass, capture, possess, sell or transport any gopher tortoise or parts thereof or their eggs, or molest, damage, or destroy gopher tortoise burrows, except as authorized by Commission permit or when complying with Commission approved guidelines for specific actions which may impact gopher tortoises and their burrows. A gopher tortoise burrow is a tunnel with a cross-section that closely approximates the shape of a gopher tortoise. Permits will be issued based upon whether issuance would further management plan goals and objectives.

Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-22-80, 7-1-83, 7-1-85, Formerly 39-27.04, Amended 6-1-86, 5-10-87, 4-27-89, 6-23-99, Formerly 39-27.004, Amended 9-29-03,________.