First Lady Casey DeSantis and Mamie DeSantis helped send the Manatee “Toast” back into the spring.

Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and SeaWorld at Three Sisters Springs to assist with the release of a manatee back into the wild. The manatee, named Toast, was rescued at Kings Bay near Three Sisters Springs in January after suffering from a natural buoyancy problem. The manatee was taken to SeaWorld Orlando’s rescue and rehabilitation facility. The First Lady assisted FWC and SeaWorld as they conducted a final medical evaluation of the manatee before releasing him back into the water.

“It was a joy to be a part of this release and to see a rehabilitated manatee be returned to his home, happy and healthy,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I am proud of the work that FWC and their partners, like SeaWorld, do to help these animals when they are in need. The Governor is committed to providing the resources necessary for these gentle sea giants to thrive in Florida’s waterways, and I am happy to see that Florida’s investments are paying off for the manatee population.”

“We were delighted to have First Lady Casey DeSantis join us in releasing a rehabilitated manatee back into the wild,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “Governor DeSantis’ bold leadership in funding manatee protection, habitat restoration, and rehabilitation ensures their sustainability for years to come.” Read more

Ranger Boats has reduced its workforce by 176 across three of its plants. The company, owned by Bass Pro Shops, says the cuts have been made in response to soft demand and the poor economy – despite what Joe Biden claims.

Seventy jobs have gone at the Flippin plant in Arkansas, 85 at Lebanon, Missouri, and 21 at Bolivar, Missouri.

“Similar to others in the marine industry, we needed to make adjustments to our operations in response to the current soft demand for marine products and the overall economic climate,” said a spokesman for Bass Pro Shops. Read more

GW:  Oh, yeah!

Buy a license, know the regulations and decontaminate.

Michigan’s statewide trout opener approaches, and anglers across the state are making plans for April 27, the last Saturday of the month.

Beyond gathering gear and choosing the perfect spot, here are some helpful tips to protect our natural resources and ensure a great experience without any snags. Read more

An endangered smalltooth sawfish is recovering after being rescued from Cudjoe Key and transported to Mote Marine Laboratory’s facility. A member of the public reported the animal swimming in circles in Cudjoe Bay. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Mote Marine Laboratory responded to the distressed sawfish. They completed a quick field assessment that included taking samples, measurements, and tagging, before making the rescue decision. The sawfish was loaded onto a vessel and provided respiratory assistance during the short boat ride to a temporary holding tank.

“Led by NOAA, our biologists and partners have taken an unprecedented step to rescue an adult smalltooth sawfish in the Keys. This has not been attempted before, but this unusual mortality event made this necessary,” said Gil McRae, Director of FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “We are hopeful this rescue and rehabilitation of an adult smalltooth sawfish will bring us one step closer to understanding the cause of this event.”

The sawfish is a 11-foot male. It has been treated and observed around the clock since its rescue on April 5. Veterinarians have provided care and treatment, which will continue for rehabilitation. Once the animal appeared capable of withstanding the nearly 7-hour drive to Mote Marine Lab’s facility, biologists carefully loaded it into a transport trailer operated by Ripley’s Aquariums. Ripley’s Aquariums conservation team monitored the sawfish and water quality conditions throughout the trip to the facility.

Now at Mote, scientists will continue to monitor and treat the sawfish. We hope it will be fully rehabilitated and returned to the wild. We are excited about the successful steps to date in rescuing endangered smalltooth sawfish and look forward to building upon lessons learned.

The team continues to monitor the sawfish hotline for additional rescue opportunities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has responded to dozens of reports over the last two months. They have provided aid and collected samples when possible, as well as performing necropsies on dead sawfish. With this first rescue success, we are hopeful to rescue additional sawfish while continuing to provide aid to others in the wild. If you see a sawfish in distress, call (844) 4-SAWFISH) or email Sawfish@myfwc.com. Read more

If your summer plans include time at a favorite lake, here’s an easy way to do some good with real, lasting value: help the MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program gather information about water quality and fish habitat conditions.

This community science program is seeking volunteers who enjoy and want to help protect Michigan’s nearly 11,000 inland lakes. There is a lot we don’t know about many of our lakes, and volunteering with MiCorps will connect you with a statewide network of people who are making a positive impact on these waters.

Want to help? Read more

A healthy, abundant walleye population is a big part of Michigan’s fisheries, and Saginaw Bay is no exception. These native fish provide exciting opportunities for world-class recreational fishing and play an important ecological role as a top predator.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has updated its plan for Saginaw Bay recreational fishing – and is asking the public’s help in finalizing it.

The draft Walleye and Yellow Perch Recreational Management Plan for Saginaw Bay is available for review and written comment through June 1.

Jeff Jolley, the DNR’s Southern Lake Huron Unit manager, said this draft plan reflects the status of the recovered walleye population and the department’s management effort toward maintaining diverse fishing and harvest opportunities for both walleye and perch. Read more

With record catches around the country tipping the scales at more than a hundred pounds, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) have become quite the draw for anglers in the Chesapeake Bay. Introduced in the 1970s as a recreational fishing target species in Virginia, invasive blue catfish populations have grown rapidly in Maryland waters.

As commercial harvests of blue catfish have risen exponentially, recreational fishing for the species is becoming more popular as a way to enjoy a day angling as well as bring plenty of fish home for dinner. Commercial landings of blue catfish have grown from 609,525 pounds in 2013 to 4.2 million pounds in 2023, more than a 500% increase in the past decade. The fish is increasingly showing up on menus and in grocery stores, helping it to become more appealing as table fare.

This year, avid anglers can fill their calendars with tournaments to try to catch the biggest and most blue catfish. There are no fishing restrictions on the species. In fact, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to catch as many blue catfish as possible and remove them from the water. Blue catfish stomach studies have determined the invasive fish are eating large quantities of native species such as white perch and blue crabs and harming the overall ecosystem. Read more

Have you seen fish stocking trucks on the road this spring? If not, chances are you soon will! Our stocking season is underway, and this time of year you’ll find DNR trucks releasing their prized cargo at hundreds of lakes and streams throughout the state.

Fish stocking is a valuable tool fisheries managers use for different reasons, including:

• Restoring ecosystem balance.
• Providing diverse fishing opportunities.
• Rehabilitating low fish populations.
• Reintroducing extirpated (locally extinct) species.

The DNR does not stock on top of wild populations when it can be avoided. Fish production staff members take great pride in the quality of the fish they produce, but when feasible prefer to rely on naturally reproducing fish that are adapted to their local ecosystem. Read more