Kellie Ralston

@RepRutherfordFL Wonderful news-thank you to President Trump and the Secretary, but also thank YOU @RepRutherfordFL for all of your hard work on this issue!!

This is a HUGE WIN for Florida’s anglers and coastal communities across the South Atlantic! Thank you, President Trump and Secretary Lutnick for your partnership and strong, decisive action to Make Fishing Great Again!

BTT is grateful for the leadership of the Trump Administration @POTUS, the USACE, the @EPA, and Florida’s Congressional delegation; and @GovRonDeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and @FLDEPNews and @SFWMD for continuing to look for ways to do more now for the Everglades. (3/3)

Great news for Gulf menhaden conservation! Three key menhaden reform bills in Louisiana passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee, without resistance from the menhaden industry. These bills provide common-sense improvements to current regulations, including strengthening penalties for harvest violations, requiring location-tracking systems on pogy boats for accountability, and making menhaden harvest data publicly available. Menhaden are a foundation of Gulf sportfishing - healthy populations of these forage fish mean more redfish, speckled trout, and tarpon for anglers up and down the coast. TRCP is grateful to the bill sponsors, Reps. Cox, Zeringue, and Orgeron, the Senate Committee members, and key partners @CCALouisiana, @LaWildlifeFed and the Louisiana Charter Boat Association for their tireless engagement. And a big thanks to those who’ve raised their voices to improve Gulf menhaden management. 📸David Mangum

Improving recreational fishing data isn’t just a technical fix — it’s key to expanding access and opportunity. NOAA’s certification of two new state recreational fishing surveys marks progress toward more accurate, timely data. It’s also a reminder of what works: collaboration with states, better tools and a willingness to modernize. That’s exactly the approach needed as we continue advancing state-led management and data improvements across key fisheries. fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/…

Thank you @POTUS for supporting state-led red snapper management in the South Atlantic. This is a major step toward better data, longer seasons and more access for anglers. A win-win for the fish, the anglers and coastal communities!

Through Florida Forever, DEP has secured a 10,023-acre conservation easement in Gulf County within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape. Sentinel landscapes are areas where national defense, conservation and working lands converge. This property acquisition will: ✔️ Help maintain compatible land use near nine military installations and training ranges. ✔️ Protect the natural resources of the region. ✔️ Preserve working forests in a rapidly developing area, sustaining rural economies. *** 📍: Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape 📸: Courtesy of Lauren Yoho/Wildpath . . #FLDEP #Conservation #FloridaForever

Senate backs @JimBoydFL protections for Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve in Manatee County, hindering controversial cruise port proposal Reporting by @Reportographer #FlaPol floridapolitics.com/archives/78111…

🔔 Florida anglers: if you want a 39-day Atlantic red snapper season, make your voice heard! 🗣️ The federal public comment period for our Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit is now open. Despite record levels of abundance in Atlantic red snapper population, federal management has limited Florida anglers to just one or two days in recent years. That’s where our EFP comes in! If approved, this innovative proposal would allow Florida to: 🎣 Test improved, state-led recreational data collection 🎣 Provide more accurate harvest information 🎣 Strengthen long-term management decisions 🎣 Allow for a proposed 39-day Atlantic red snapper recreational season in 2026 ‼️ NOAA Fisheries is now accepting public comment through Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Anglers - we strongly encourage you to submit feedback during the open federal comment period. 🗨️ Click here to comment: bit.ly/AtlanticRedSna…

BTT and a broad coalition of conservation, fishing, and community organizations sent a formal letter opposing the #SkywayCruisePort and detailing significant threats to #TampaBay’s most productive and intact coastal ecosystems. suncoastwaterkeeper.org/skyway_opposit…

BTT thanks Senator @JimBoydFL for his leadership in protecting vital tarpon habitat threatened by the proposed Sunshine Skyway Cruise Port! Read more about the legislation filed yesterday that would block dredging in the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve: axios.com/local/tampa-ba…

Great news from @NOAAFisheries-so appreciative of the agency’s leadership on this issue. And @GovRonDeSantis @myfwc, @SAFMC, @myfwc, @SenRickScott , and @RepRutherfordFL!! noaa.gov/news-release/n…

Committee weeks continue as we hurtle towards the end of 2025. This week we highlight the Governor’s released budget proposals, & - A closer look at HB 299. - A coral reef update. - A summary of our concern over the application of biosolids in Florida. audubon.stagecoachdigital.com/web-view/17026…

The Floridians First Budget will fully fund the remaining state-funded portions of the Central Everglades Planning Project to clean, store and convey water through the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and the Blue Shanty Flow-Way.

CSF just dropped the State Issue Brief Collection. This is your go-to guide for understanding the policies shaping the future of hunting, fishing, and conservation. Get your copy: #p=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">online.fliphtml5.com/ainum/qdiz/#p=1

🗓️ On this day in 1947, the Crying Cow Report was released by the Florida Everglades Drainage District. 💧The report documented flood damage throughout Central and South Florida after a period of heavy rain. 📃 Following the report's release, the State Legislature created the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District, the predecessor agency to the @SFWMD. 🌿 Today, the District continues to operate and maintain South Florida's regional water management system to effectively manage and safeguard our water resources. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl to learn more.

A PBS Nature clip shows a sleeping octopus named Heidi changing colors rapidly, with patterns suggesting she might be dreaming about hunting a crab. Marine biologist David Scheel captured the footage during a sleep phase similar to REM, when octopuses display brain activity levels comparable to mammals. While research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology confirms that octopuses process visual memories while asleep, scientists caution that calling it “dreaming” is still an informed hypothesis rather than a confirmed fact.

12 days of Christmas down, 13 left to go! If you celebrate Christmas, we hope your trees are up and beautifully decorated, much like these Christmas tree worms! 🎄 @noaaocean oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/xmas-tre…

We cut the ribbon on the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center in Everglades City! The facility is due to fully open later this month. For more information on visiting the Gulf Coast district: ow.ly/ZUTI50XIJnr #EvergladesNationalPark #MSDVC #ribboncutting

Governor DeSantis’ Floridians First Budget reflects the Governor’s record of following through on environmental promises and investing in projects that matter to Floridians, all while responsibly managing taxpayer resources. To view the Governor’s budget recommendations for DEP, visit: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP…