Florida’s Governor Scott ‘Gets to Work’ at Freshwater Fish Hatchery
Promotes Florida as the Fishing Capital of the World
In an effort to promote Florida as the Fishing Capital of the World, Governor Rick Scott today participated in his 13th ‘Let’s Get to Work Day’ at the Florida Bass Conservation Center at the Richloam Fish Hatchery. Throughout the day, Governor Scott worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) employees in stocking Florida’s public waters to help Florida remain the best place to fish.
“By maintaining Florida’s status as the Fishing Capital of the World, we can keep Florida’s tourism industry strong and continue to move our economy in the right direction,” said Governor Scott. “Our state welcomed a record number 87.3 million visitors last year. We are on track to another record this year, in part because of the FWC employees that I worked with today.”
Florida is home to 7,700 lakes, 3 million acres of fishable water, as well as 12,000 miles of rivers and streams. Florida’s freshwater serves 1.5 million anglers and accounts for $2.6 billion in economic impact supporting 24,800 jobs annually. For black bass in Florida, in 2006 anglers enjoyed more than 14 million days fishing, generated a $1.25 billion economic impact supporting almost 12,000 jobs.
About the Florida Bass Conservation Center
The Florida Bass Conservation Center is a modern facility located on Withlacoochee State Forest, in Sumter County. It has a visitor’s observation area with informative displays, conducts research, and produces the majority of freshwater fish that are stocked in public freshwaters throughout the peninsula. They are also equipped to do fish health analyses and to provide samples for genetic analyses.
About Governor Scott’s ‘Let’s Get to Work’ Days
Last year, Governor Scott started working at jobs throughout the state to help promote key industries while gaining a better perspective on the lives of everyday Floridians. Floridians can suggest jobs for the Governor’s workdays by visiting www.FLGov.com and clicking on “’Let’s Get to Work Days’ or e-mailing Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com. Stay updated on the Governor’s ‘Let’s Get to Work’ Days by following him on Twitter and Facebook. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/flgovscott/tags/hatchery for photos for Governor Scott’s Freshwater Fish Hatchery Work Day.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
