ANGLERS, NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE THE SKYWAY FISHING PIER!
30 Apr 2024. At the July 2023 FWC Commissioners Meeting, FWC Commissioners rejected Friends of the Pelicans’ requests to close the Skyway Fishing Pier to fishing and impose a year-round ban on Sabiki rigs and treble hooks in 2023. This past week Friends of the Pelicans posted on Facebook asking members to write email Florida DEP and FDOT, “to make only the first half of the pier for fishing and the second half, the more deadly half, would be closed to fishing.”
Skyway Pier anglers just want to fish
In 2022, FWC proposed the Skyway State Park Fishing Pier Rule. Many Skyway Pier did not organize behind fellow anglers, Skyway Misfits, and other’s efforts to help challenge the bird non-profits groups influence over the FWC. Had it not been for their efforts, the Rule would have more restrictive to include closing the end of the piers and the pier at night.
Many anglers soon regretted not helping more by emailing their representatives, DEP, FWC, DOT, and County Commissioners. Here is your chance. I encourage you to share this post with the fishing community and others. Ask them to help. If you do not, the stark reality is, you could lose your right to fish at the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.
Anglers are the first line of defense.
Anglers are the first line of defense to reduce the likelihood and severity of seabird entanglement. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park has a park ranger and bird rescue staff on busy days. There are two non-profits that are more than willing to help, Skyway Team Bird Rescue (360)704–8211 and Birds in Helping Hand (727) 365–4592. In addition, FWC may have volunteers and will be clearly identified. When in doubt on what to do or need help, ask another angler, or send someone to the bait shop for help. You can call or text 360–704–8211. If the bird cannot be released, there are crates at the bait shop, ask the attendant.
CALL TO ACTION: Anglers need to respond in-kind with a polite and civil message
Anglers need to respond in-kind with a polite and civil message to the same Government officials and staff Friends of the Pelicans suggested. If I may suggest a response with the
SUBJECT: Save Skyway Fishing Piers
I am an angler or Skyway Pier supporter who disagrees with Friends of the Pelicans position to
(1) close the any part of the Skyway Fishing Pier
(2) to ban Sabiki rigs and treble hooks.
(3) Remove nighttime gear restrictions. Birds do not forage after sunset at the Skyway Fishing Piers.
(4) Explain what fishing at the Skyway Fishing Piers means to you.
Send To:
Shawn.Hamilton@floridadep.gov
Terry.Bentley@floridadep.gov
Brian.Fugate@dep.state.fl.us
Chuck.Hatcher@FloridaDEP.gov
Joseph.Chapman@floridadep.gov
James.Jacobsen@dot.state.fl.us
Whose roles are:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
1. Secretary Shawn Hamilton
2. Dep. Secretary’s Office Terry Bentley
Division of Recreation & Parks
3. Assistant Deputy Director Brian Fugate
4. Director Chuck Hatcher
Land and Recreation
5. Assistant Deputy Secretary Joseph Chapman
Florida Department of Transportation
Tampa District Office, District Structures Maintenance Office
6. James Jacobsen District Structures Maintenance Engineer
Hooked a Bird, Don’t Cut the Line! Reel. Remove. Release
MyFWC.com/Unhook
Complete the education course and know what to do. The rescue Education Course is at https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/skyway-1923/
To identify a transporter or rehabilitation center, use FWC’s app:
https://ocean.floridamarine.org/seabirdrehabilitators/
Video Demonstration: How to Unhook a Pelican
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbRWalIs7bc
Need Help? Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888–404–3922
Text #FWC or *FWC on Cellphone
