Photos available: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyK5nad

At its July meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines for four state-listed beach-nesting bird species, including the American oystercatcher, snowy plover, least tern and black skimmer.

All four species of state-listed beach-nesting birds are included in one set of  guidelines, which is now available at MyFWC.com/speciesguidelines.

The guidelines are designed to be a tool for landowners, consultants, agency partners and other interested parties on how to conserve these species. Recommended conservation measures and survey methods are included to promote actions that benefit these four species. These guidelines also include options for avoidance of take and options for permitting that minimize and mitigate unavoidable harm or harassment.

ShoreMapper is an online resource intended to support these Guidelines and assist in determining whether project activities will take place in an area important for imperiled beach-nesting birds. The ShoreMapper tool is now available at gis.MyFWC.com/ShoreMapper.

The approved guidelines will take effect in September of 2023. In the meantime, the FWC will continue to issue permits for these species on a case-by-case basis. The intervening period will be used to recruit and train new Imperiled Beach-nesting Bird Permitted Monitors, develop outreach and training products, and to raise awareness with affected stakeholders.

For an overview of how Florida conserves imperiled species, visit MyFWC.com/Imperiled.