By AL HARTMAN

The U. S. Wildlife Federation did a survey of the states that have most problems with bear reactions with humans. Florida belongs very high on the nationwide bear problem call list because Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has one of the clearest long-term public datasets anywhere.

From News Service of Florida

Ocean Conservancy, an environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., is backing a legal challenge to the recent federal approval of exempted fishing permits for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The lawsuit was filed May 5 by the Southeastern Fisheries Association, shortly after the National Marine Fisheries Service issued exempted fishing permits allowing the four states to set their own red snapper regulations for state and federal waters.
Earthjustice, a Tallahassee-based environmental law nonprofit representing Ocean Conservancy, announced it was filing an amicus brief in the case on Monday.
The filing states the fishing permits undermine U.S. fisheries law and impose “grave harm not just to the South Atlantic red snapper population and those who depend on it, but to the rational, lawful operations of federal fisheries management itself.”
Ocean Conservancy contends the changes will result in the annual catch limit being exceeded by 20 times. A release from Earthjustice states the annual catch limit for the recreational sector is 22,797 fish. Meanwhile, a recent two-day red snapper fishing season in Florida resulted in 24,885 landed fish.
On May 11, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a 39-day red snapper fishing season in the Atlantic coast this year, an expansion from the two days allowed last year.
DeSantis has long pushed for the federal government to allow longer red snapper seasons in the Atlantic to match the expanded season on Florida’s west coast, where the state manages the red snapper population.
“Every single person I talk to that fishes out there will say (the fish are) everywhere,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Fernandina Beach to announce the Atlantic season. “I don’t believe that the data is accurate. Sure enough, the experience (on the Gulf coast) has shown that that’s the case.”

Special to The Sun

The Wakulla County Garden Club announced at a recent meeting a transition in its board of directors, recognizing outgoing leaders and welcoming new officers.