Florida Governor Rick Scott has issued Executive Order 18-221 declaring a state of emergency due to impacts of red tide in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Red tide is a naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1840’s and occurs nearly every year.

Governor Scott said, “As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating impacts of red tide, we will continue taking an aggressive approach by using all available resources to help our local communities. Today, I am issuing an emergency declaration to provide significant funding and resources to the communities experiencing red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts. This includes making additional FWC biologists and scientists available to assist in clean-up and animal rescue efforts, more than $100,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory and $500,000 for VISIT FLORIDA to establish an emergency grant program to help local communities continue to bring in the visitors that support so many Florida families and businesses. Read more

FLIPPIN, Ark. – Since the initial venture into the aluminum boat market in 2013, Ranger Boats quickly became the industry’s fastest growing aluminum boat brand. Value-packed and feature-laden, the lineup of the 2019 RT Aluminum Series brings a fresh, new look along with additional features built specifically for bass and multi species anglers.

“We have received an overwhelmingly positive response to our RT Aluminum series boats since they hit the market,” said Ranger Boats Sales Manager Mark Zwicker. “Staying consistent with our tradition of maintaining the leading-edge in design and features, we’re excited to unveil the new changes to the 2019 RT Series lineup. Our aluminum designs continue to deliver an affordable, durable product paired with the Ranger name and the long list of Five Star advantages that come with it.”

Featuring an all-new, fully enclosed console that can house up to a 12-inch graph, the RT Series sports a fresh look with redesigned hullside graphics, chrome badging, and chrome foil model designators. Each RT Series model is also available in three new color packages – Carbon Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic and Fusion, which features lime green accents. Along with the new look, Ranger also brings added comfort in the form of new premium color-matched, side-bolstering seating with enhanced knee room under the console.

The flagship of the series – the RT198P – not only carries the new look and styling, but has been upgraded with added features such as enlarged rear storage boxes and an Aqualon custom boat cover. Also new for 2019, the RT198P includes the option to mount twin Power Pole anchors for even greater versatility in shallow water.

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List includes diverse bodies of water across the U.S.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (August 9, 2018) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its Take Me Fishing™ campaign announces the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat. The full list of 50 – nominated by state fish and wildlife agencies and curated by moms –- was further whittled down to the Top 10 by nearly 32,000 votes from across the United States. The list represents a full spectrum of the nation’s diverse bodies of water, from a river in Alaska to a lake in the heart of the Midwest and the shores of Hawaii.

Each Top 10 Mom-Approved Place features family-friendly amenities such as recreation areas, picnic shelters, nearby parking, boat launches, safe water access and of course, plenty of fish to catch.

“The list of Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat is a great guide for moms, kids and everyone looking to get out on the water this summer,” said RBFF VP of Communications Stephanie Vatalaro. “Creating awareness and facilitating access to resources for young anglers and their families is a key component to achieving our 60 in 60 goal.”

Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat: Read more

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) continues to monitor the red tide affecting southwest Florida.  Red tides are common along Florida’s Gulf coast, and fish populations have been resilient to the impact even after severe and prolonged red tide events.

At Gov. Rick Scott’s direction, the FWC has mobilized all available resources to mitigate naturally occurring red tide, and executive director Eric Sutton has waived rules through an executive order to expedite the removal of dead fish – regardless of applicable bag, size, or possession limits or of season or area closures – from shoreline, inshore or nearshore areas in the following counties: Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Read more

Washington – Last week the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation advanced the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act (S. 3119). This proposed legislation seeks to provide needed flexibility and contains surgical and pragmatic amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that will allow states in the Columbia River Basin to balance the ongoing conservation of sea lions with that of other species that also warrant protection.

Researchers have estimated that sea lions are taking up to 45% of the spring Chinook salmon run in the Columbia basin and have concluded that if sea lion predation on these stocks is not addressed in the near future, there is a 90% probability that at least one of the winter steelhead populations will become extinct. Read more

Last week, President Trump announced that he is “very close” to allowing the sale of 15 percent ethanol blended fuel, or E15, year-round. NMMA has worked closely with the administration and Congress regarding the recreational boating industry’s problems with higher ethanol additives in gasoline.

In response, NMMA’s President, Thom Dammrich, stated, “President Trump’s pledge to allow the year-round sale of E15 will needlessly put consumers in danger, including the 142 million American boaters that take to the water every year. There’s a reason that previous proposals to expand the sale of E15 have failed – it’s simply bad policy.”

Dammrich continued, “Unfortunately, most consumers don’t know about the risks of high-ethanol fuel blends like E15 and expanding sales into the summer months will only do more harm. Sixty-five percent of people assume that any gas sold at retail gas stations is safe for all their products, when in fact federal regulation prohibits E15 use in small engines. These engines – like those in boats, lawn mowers, and motorcycles – suffer immediate damage when fueled with blends exceeding 10 percent ethanol, thus voiding their warrantees and saddling consumers with high repair and replacement costs. Read more

Smalltooth sawfish are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal to target, harm, harass, or handle them in any way. While it is technically illegal to catch a sawfish (except with a research permit or in a fishery where incidental take has been authorized) captures do occur while fishing for other species. Any sawfish caught while fishing must be released as quickly as possible. Read more

More than 2,000 pounds of live, illegal red swamp crayfish recently were seized by Department of Natural Resources conservation officers – the largest aquatic invasive species seizure by the Michigan DNR.

Red swamp crayfish are prohibited in both Michigan and Canada. They burrow and create shoreline erosion, creating instability. Additionally, they compete with native crayfish, reducing the amount of food and habitat available for amphibians, invertebrates and juvenile fish.

Conservation officers in St. Clair County were notified Friday, July 13, by U.S. Customs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when a commercial hauler transporting red swamp crayfish was denied entry into Canada and would be returning to Michigan. The commercial hauler was stopped by Canadian officials at the Sarnia, Canada, border crossing in an attempt to leave the United States.

“Our officers have great working relationships with professional law enforcement partners across the U.S. and Canada. This is a fine example of how important those relationships are in protecting Michigan’s natural resources,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division.

Assisted by customs officials, DNR conservation officers stopped the truck and obtained 55 bags of live crayfish. After interviewing the driver, the officers learned the truck originated from Canada and made stops in Maryland and Arkansas to pick up cargo prior to attempting its return to Canada. The driver did not have appropriate records, other than a few purchase receipts. DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Great Lakes Enforcement Unit is conducting further investigation. It currently is unknown if any stops or sales were made in Michigan.

The first concern regarding red swamp crayfish in Michigan was in 2013, when conservation officers learned the illegal crayfish was being used as bait in southwest Michigan. The first live infestations in Michigan were detected and reported in 2017. Confirmed infestations include locations in southeast Michigan.

Native in southeast states of the U.S., red swamp crayfish are the most widespread invasive crayfish in the world, and often are used in classrooms as teaching tools and at food festivities such as crayfish boils. Any possession of live red swamp crayfish in Michigan is illegal. The DNR is working to increase awareness and reporting of the illegal crayfish, in addition to removing infestations from confirmed locations.

A recent cleanup effort along a stretch of the Menominee River is expected to boost fish and environmental health in the area as the river recovers.

The Menominee River forms the boundary between the northeast corner of Wisconsin and the southern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with headwaters originating in both states and eventually emptying into Green Bay.

Federal Environmental Protection Agency and state specialists from Michigan and Wisconsin helped Lower Menominee River communities clean up the river by removing contaminants left by historic industry use, including manufactured gas, ship-building, paper and wastewater treatment companies. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds supported the cleanup.

“Restoration of sites like these makes an incredible difference for Great Lakes communities and natural habitat, as well as the outdoor recreation opportunities they support,” said Office of the Great Lakes Director Jon Allan. “Together, we’re achieving the goal of swimmable, fishable, drinkable waters that everyone can enjoy.” Read more