Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was founded in 1999 with the merger of the Marine Fisheries Commission, Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Fresh Water Fish Commission. It issues licenses and permits for recreational hunting, fishing and public land use and commercial fishing. The commission is comprised of more than 700 sworn law enforcement officers and over 500 scientists. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission protects and manages nearly 575 species of wildlife and approximately 700 native species of freshwater and saltwater fishes. It works to keep waterways safe for boaters and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies that provide homeland security. The department also makes management decisions based on available scientific data involving fish and wildlife populations, habitat issues and the human-dimension aspects of conservation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also conducts hunting and boating safety training programs. It is headquartered in Tallahassee, Fla.