28340701, 68A-27.0021 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services

Notice: 28340701

Notice of Proposed Rule

Department:

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Division:

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

Chapter:

RULES RELATING TO ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES

Overview

RULE:

68A-27.0021

Designation of Candidate Species; Prohibitions; Permits

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this rule revision is to designate and declare the Florida reef gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus) as a candidate species. The effect of the rule will prohibit intentional take of the Florida reef gecko except as authorized by specific permit from the Executive Director while the species continues through the formal listing process as outlined in Rule 68A-27.0012, F.A.C., Procedures for Listing and Removing Species from Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species List.

SUMMARY:

The proposed rule is an intermediate step in the state listing process for the Florida reef gecko. In 2021, the FWC received a request to evaluate the Florida reef gecko for listing as State-designated Threatened and the Commission approved a Biological Review Group to evaluate the status of the species. Based on this evaluation, staff made a listing status recommendation to the Commissioners during their May 2024 meeting. Commissioners agreed that the species warranted listing as State-designated Threatened and approved incorporating the Florida reef gecko into Rule 68A027.001, F.A.C. as a candidate species. This proposed rule is the outcome of that listing recommendation and will allow staff to continue with the listing process. Once added to the list of candidate species, staff will draft a management plan and Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines, and return to the Commissioners for approval, which will then complete the listing process and add the Florida reef gecko to the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species List.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution

LAW:

Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

5/9/2024 Vol. 50/92

COMMENTS:

From 5/9/2024 To 5/30/2024 (21 Days)

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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