THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS WORKED THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND TO AGREE ON A STATE BUDGET.

FIND OUT WHAT THE BUDGET DEAL COULD MEAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT UNDERSTANDING AND INCORPORATING AI INTO SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE MEET WITH THE CONSULTANT WHO IS ENCOURAGING TECH GROWTH TO LET ORGANIZATIONS DREAM BIG.

AND KEEPING THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES CLEAR OF INVASIVE SPECIES.

WE LEARN MORE ON HOW THIS YEAR'S PYTHON CHALLENGE AIMS TO REPEAT PREVIOUS YEAR'S SUCCESS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS FINALLY REACHED A DEAL ON A STATE BUDGET AFTER WORKING THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

THE FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE AGREED ON AN ALMOST 115 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

NOW THE MANDATORY 3 DAY COOLING OFF PERIOD BEGINS WITH LAWMAKERS EXPECTED TO RECONVENE FOR A FLOOR VOTE ON FRIDAY BEFORE SUNDAY.

GET TO THE GOVERNOR.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER.

>> JOHN DAVIS WITH THE VERY LATEST IN THE BIG PICTURE PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROPOSED STATE BUDGET THAT WE FINALLY HAVE.

>> WE DO.

YOU KNOW, THINGS ENDED LAST WEEK WHERE NEGOTIATIONS WERE GOING A LITTLE SLOWER THAN EXPECTED.

WE ENTER THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WITHOUT A PROPOSED BUDGET.

BUT BUDGET NEGOTIATORS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AND THEN BY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT, THEY DID HAVE A DEAL ON THE TABLE.

NOW.

THIS IS A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT THE HOUSE HAD PROPOSED A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT THE SENATE HAVE TRULY A NEGOTIATION.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE LAST THAN THE MORE THAN 117 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

THE STATE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH IS PROJECTING BUDGET DEFICITS IN THE COMING YEARS, SOAP AND CUTTING THE SPENDING PLAN WAS JUST THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, PRUDENT MOVE TO MAKE REALLY AND REALLY HOW SPEAKER DANIEL PEREZ WAS KIND OF A DRIVING FORCE FOR LOWERING THE BUDGET.

AND AND AGAIN, THAT WAS A BIG PART OF WHY THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REACH A BUDGET DEAL BY THE END OF THE REGULAR ANNUAL SESSION BACK IN MARCH.

AND WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU, JOHN, WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING EDUCATION.

>> AND THIS PROPOSAL.

>> SO A BIG THING FOR PARTICULARLY K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO LEAVE.

AND THAT'S 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ALLOCATION FOR THE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVES MONEY TO FAMILIES TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION OR FOR HOME SCHOOLING.

THEIR KIDS.

AND THAT CONTROVERSY WAS REALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AUDIT THAT CAME OUT LAST FALL.

SO IN SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT MISMANAGEMENT WITH THE PROGRAM.

SO SOME LAWMAKERS WERE JUST NOT ON BOARD WITH CONTINUING TO FUND IT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE LEAVING THAT 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IS IS JUST ON EVERYBODY'S MINDS RIGHT NOW.

WE KNOW IN LEE COUNTY, WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ISSUES WITH TEACHERS BEING CAUGHT.

BUT THERE ARE EVEN SOME OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE LIKE A GLADES IS ONE OF THEM WHERE THEY'VE BEEN PUT ON EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE ENROLLMENT GROOM AND DROPS HAVE BEEN SO SIGNIFICANT.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY JEOPARDIZE THE DISTRICT SOLVENCY IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT PUSH BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS TO TRANSFER THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, SARASOTA MANATEE CAMPUS TO NEIGHBORING NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA.

AND THEY DID LEAVE OUT PLAN IN THIS FINAL BUDGET DEAL.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE EVEN LOCAL BUSINESS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ORGANIZATIONS IN THAT AREA WERE REALLY AGAINST THIS BECAUSE THEY SAY THE U.S.

OF SARASOTA MANATEE CAMPUS KIND OF PROVIDES AN INDUSTRY PIPELINE WITH DEGREES AND HEALTH CARE RELATED FIELDS, ACCOUNTING AND THINGS NEW COLLEGE JUST DOESN'T OFFER DEGREE PROGRAMS.

>> ARE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT WITHIN THIS PROPOSAL THAT IMPACT HEALTH CARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> OH, YEAH.

SO IN HEALTH CARE OF THE SENATE WIDE, 30 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS LIKE CANCER RESEARCH INITIATIVE THAT FIRST LADY CASEY DESANTIS HAS REALLY BEEN CHAMPIONING THE HOUSE DIDN'T WANT TO FUND IT AT ALL, BUT THEY DID AGREE TO PUT IN 20 MILLION.

SO THE SENATE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT, BUT THAT IS GOING TO GET SOME SIGNIFICANT FUNDING THERE.

ALSO, FLORIDA'S AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT FACED A BIG CONCERT EARLIER THIS YEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BECAUSE WE LOST FEDERAL FUNDING THAT HAD PAID FOR THAT.

NOW, THIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE REALLY COST PROHIBITIVE EXPENSIVE DRUGS, PEOPLE WITH HIV AND AIDS RELY ON.

SO DURING THE REGULAR SESSION, LAWMAKERS DID APPROVE SOME EMERGENCY FUNDING TO KEEP THAT PROGRAM GOING.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF JUNE SO NOW THOSE FOLKS CAN BREATHE A LITTLE BIT OF A SIGH OF RELIEF BECAUSE FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN RESTORED TO A BUDGET DEAL INCLUDES 514 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION PROJECTS.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE DESANTIS HAD SAID BACK IN MARCH, IF LAWMAKERS APPROVE A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T HOW SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION, HE'D VETO THE WHOLE BUDGET.

SO LAWMAKERS WERE REALLY YOU KNOW, THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THEM TO DO.

AND THEN THIS IS REALLY JUST BEEN AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY OF DESANTIS SINCE DAY ONE, LIKE HIS VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE IN JANUARY 2019 WAS TO ANNOUNCE HISTORIC FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESOURCE ARM WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION AND EVERGLADES RESTORATION FUNDING.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER AREAS THAT YOU WANT TO POINT OUT THAT >> ARE SORT OF HOTLY CONTESTED, STILL CONTENTIOUS.

SO ONE WAS THIS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND THAT WENT ALONG WITH GOVERNOR DECLARED.

>> STATES OF EMERGENCY.

AND THEY DID INCLUDE 250 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR THAT FUND.

WHY THIS WAS CONTENTIOUS.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE TYPICALLY THINK OF THAT MONEY GOING TOWARDS EFFORTS TO HELP AND DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCIES LIKE HURRICANES OR NATURAL DISASTERS.

BUT SINCE DESANTIS HAS HAVE THIS EMERGENCY DECLARATION IN PLACE OVER IMMIGRATION, THE MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR THE STATES IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.

SO THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT VOICES AND THE DIDN'T WANT THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE THAT MONEY OR TO BE ABLE TO PUT MORE RESTRICTIONS ON HOW THAT MONEY CAN BE USED.

SO THE FUNDING IS INCLUDED, BUT IT'S ALSO CONTINGENT ON THE GOVERNOR SIGNING A BILL INTO LAW THAT LIMITS HOW THAT MONEY COULD BE USED IN, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, MANMADE DISASTERS.

WHY THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE HURRICANES.

ALSO, THE BUDGET INCLUDES 150 MILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT PACKAGE.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY SALES TAX HOLIDAYS ON GUNS AND AMMUNITION.

NOTABLY, THOUGH, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY KIND OF SUSPENSION OR REPRIEVE OF THE STATE GAS TAX, WHICH IS SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR.

AND OF COURSE, IS AN ISSUE THAT REMAINS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND WITH GAS PRICES STILL BEING AS HIGH AS THEY ARE.

>> NOW THERE IS A 72 HOUR COOLING OFF PERIOD.

ONCE IT'S OFFICIALLY APPROVED, BUY THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SO THEN THE BUDGET BASICALLY IS TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND HE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

NOW UNDER FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTION, THE GOVERNOR HAS LINE ITEM VETO AUTHORITY, WHICH MEANS THAT HE CAN STRIKE ANY FUNDING ALLOCATION THAT HE WANTS FROM THE BUDGET.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE HAS EXERCISED A LOT SINCE HE FIRST BECAME GOVERNOR JUST LAST WEEK HE WAS BOASTING THAT HE HAS VETOED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE BUDGET OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS.

NOW, IF IT'S A REALLY CONTENTIOUS ALLOCATION THAT STATE LAWMAKERS WANT TO PUSH BACK ON, THEY CAN OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO, BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY EXERCISED VERY RARELY.

SO I KIND OF IMAGINE THAT ONCE DESANTIS HAS DONE WITH HIS LINE ITEM VETO PAM.

THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET'S GOING TO BE.

SO WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

>> MAKE SURE YOU ARE STAYING UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE HAPPENINGS IN FLORIDA POLITICS JUST HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE W G C DOT ORG.

COMING UP, TAKING CARE OF A GENTLE GIANT IN THE FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM.

AFTER YEARS OF OVERFISHING, WE LEARN HOW DIVERS CAN HELP WITH RESEARCH TO RAISE UP THE POPULATION OF THE GOLIATH GROUPER.

COLLIER COUNTY WOMAN IS BEING HONORED FOR WHAT SHE DOES TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES GROW.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER IS HERE WITH THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR COVERAGE OF REGIONAL BUSINESS, AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH A A REALLY INSIGHTFUL YOUNG WOMAN NAMED MELISSA SEVERANCE.

>> SHE WORKED FOR LARGE COMPANIES IN PHILADELPHIA BEFORE MOVING HERE DURING COVID.

SHE FOUNDED A CONSULTING FIRM CALLED INSPIRE BIG DREAMS.

AND SHE JUST WON A TOP AWARD.

>> FROM THE SWFL THINK GROUP, IT'S CALLED THE INCREDIBLE AWARD.

>> THAT GROUP IS SORT OF A REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE COACHES WITH LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS AND ALSO GIVE TALKS ABOUT TRENDS IN BUSINESS.

HERE'S SOME OF OUR INTERVIEW STARTING WITH A TOPIC THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LOVE TO HATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> EVEN SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE TED TAPS INTO SOME AUTOMATION PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS USING AI KNOWING HOW TO USE SAID TO THE BEST CAPACITY AS POSSIBLE POSSIBLE FOR EFFICIENCIES.

AND I'VE BEEN SEEING THAT REALLY ROCK A LOT OF THE AREAS AROUND HERE.

I HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE'RE GOING TO GROW.

SO A LOT OF THAT IS WITH AI.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THE SIDE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING THE PEOPLE SKILLS, THE NEXT LEVEL AS WELL, TOO.

I THINK, UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU DON'T CHANGE, ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GROW AND SCALE AND YOU MIGHT GO BACKWARDS IN YOUR BUSINESS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S SO MUCH COMPETITION OUT THERE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO JUST DO IT IN BABY STEPS AND JUST START LEARNING ABOUT IT.

AND GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THAT.

I'M REALLY A COMPONENT OF DISRUPTING THE FUTURE OF WORK, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION GOING ON.

SO WE'RE PREPARED FOR MONTHS AHEAD OF US.

WE WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, RESPONDING NOT REACTING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR BUSINESS AND TO THE COMMUNITY.

MAYBE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE WORK.

I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHY WE TALKED ABOUT CHANGE.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GO WITH THE CHANGING.

KEEP BEING IN LEARNING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE.

YOU KNOW, OUR JOBS ARE GOING TO TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN 10 YEARS.

MAYBE EVEN 5 YEARS.

WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TRUST OUR PEOPLE IN POWER THEM AND MICROMANAGEMENT IS GONE FROM LEADERSHIP STYLE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT AND COACH, BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TRUST IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HIRING.

YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK IT'S BEEN GREAT THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE GIVING BACK AND ALLOWING THEIR PEOPLE TO GROW AND EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SEEING A LOT MORE OF THAT SOUTHWEST.

PART OF PEOPLE LIKE GIVING BACK TO THEIR PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THEY LEARN AND GROW.

SO IT HELPS THEIR COMPANY SCOUT.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SEEING AND REALLY KIND OF APPRECIATING IN THE AREA.

>> SHE'S A VERY INSPIRING MIKE.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER TIPS THAT SHE HAS 4 STARTING A BUSINESS AND KEEPING IT GROWING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHILE SEVERANCE IS REALLY STRONG ON.

>> FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIPS, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

SHE SAYS THIS AREA IS CERTAINLY NOT A SMALL TOWN.

HASN'T BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE'RE NOT.

NEW YORK WERE NOT SAN FRANCISCO WITH SO MANY BIG MULTI NATIONAL COMPANIES.

IT'S HARD TO MEET THE RIGHT PEOPLE FACE TO FACE HERE.

YOU CAN DO SO.

AND SHE SAYS THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THAT NETWORKING AND FACE-TO-FACE CONNECTIONS, PERSONAL CONNECTIONS ARE JUST SO VERY IMPORTANT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR SHARING HER STORY TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> THE GOLIATH GROUPER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SPECIES PATROLLING THE FLORIDA WATERS.

ASIDE FROM CONTROLLING REEF FISH POPULATIONS.

IT'S BELIEVED THE SPECIES GENERATES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR JUST FOR SNORKELERS AND DIVERS TO GET A VIEW.

MARINE EXPERTS SAY POPULATIONS OF THE GOLIATH GROUPER ARE SLOWLY REBOUNDING AFTER YEARS OF OVER HARVESTING THAT LED TO A COMPLETE HARVEST BAN BACK IN 1990, TO HELP MONITOR THE SPECIES AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.

AN ANNUAL COUNT OF THE FISH IS SET TO BEGIN.

>> THE GREAT GOLIATH GROUPER COUNT IS SET TO START ON JUNE.

1ST TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS DOCTOR ANGELA COLLINS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA.

>> WHO JOINS US NOW AND DR COLLINS.

YOU ARE A MARINE FISHERY SPECIALIST AND ALSO AN EXPERT IN AQUA CULTURE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

>> I'M DOING GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FIRST DESCRIBE THIS MASSIVE FISH.

IT IS THE LARGEST MEMBER OF THIS SEA BASS FAMILY.

I LEARNED.

>> GOLIATH GROUPER ARE THE LARGEST IN THE COOPER FAMILY AND THE GULF AND SOUTH ATLANTIC.

THIS IS A FISH THAT CAN GET UP TO 7 FEET IN TOTAL LENGTH AND WEIGH HUNDREDS OF POUNDS.

SO THEY'RE QUITE MASSIVE.

QUITE A FAVORITE OF THE DIVE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OBVIOUS AND HUGE UNDERWATER, VERY IMPRESSIVE FISH TO SEE WHEN YOU'RE SCUBA DIVING.

>> NOW, WHAT IS THE GREAT GOLIATH GROUPER COUNT?

AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE ONE?

>> WELL, SO THE GOLIATH GROUPER COUNT ACTUALLY STARTED OVER 15 YEARS AGO.

WE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR DIVERSE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS SPECIES.

GOLIATH GROUPER HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM HARVEST SINCE 1990.

SO THIS IS A SPECIES OF GROUP FOR THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY PROTECTED AND FEDERAL WATERS SINCE THE 90'S AND A LOT OF DIVERS SEE THEM UNDER WATER.

THE POPULATION HAS STARTED TO RECOVER AFTER YEARS OF PROTECTION AND MORE AND MORE DIVERS WANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION WHEN THEY DO SEE THESE FISH.

SO THE GREAT GOLIATH GROUPER, COUNTLESS STARTED AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, DIVERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FISH THAT THEY SEE REGULARY WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE.

DIVING ON THE REEFS THAT THEY DIVE ON, ESPECIALLY IN ON THE WEST FLORIDA SHELF IN THE GULF, ALTHOUGH IT HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS.

IT STARTED IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

BUT OVER THE YEARS IT HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE SITES IN THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA KEYS AND UP THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.

SO IT'S REALLY TURNED INTO QUITE THE STATEWIDE EVENT.

>> AND THIS FISH WAS ALMOST TO THE POINT OF EXTINCTION BEFORE 1990, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, THE FISH WAS.

IT DEFINITELY SUFFERED OVERFISHING IN THE 80'S.

THIS IS A SPECIES THAT AGGREGATES AT HIGH RELIEF.

SO HABITAT WAS STRUCTURE THEY LOVE ARTIFICIAL REEFS.

THEY LOVE HIGH REALLY STRUCTURE SO AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY CLOSE TO SHORE.

MOST GOLIATH GROUPER AGGREGATIONS ARE OCCURRING INSIDE OF 200 FEET.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY AGGREGATE AT THESE, YOU KNOW, EASY TO FIND HABITATS THAT THEY'RE SO LARGE AND VERY APPROACHABLE UNDER WATER.

THEY'RE PRETTY EASY TO CATCH ALL OF THESE THINGS.

MADE THEM QUITE VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION.

AND ASSESSED WAS OVERFISHED IN THE 80'S.

AND IN 1990, THEY RECOGNIZE THAT POPULATIONS HAVE DECLINED TO A POINT WHERE THEY NEEDED TO LIMIT HARVEST.

AND SO IN 1990, THERE IS CLOSURE AND THAT THERE'S BEEN NO FISHING FOR THE LIFE.

COOPER AND FEDERAL WATERS.

SINCE THEN.

AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THE STATE OF FLORIDA DID OPEN A LIMITED HARVEST, VERY LIMITED SMALL NUMBER OF GOLIATH AND STATE WATERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE FISH ANNUALLY NOW, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE A PERMIT AND A TAG AND THAT STATE WATERS ONLY.

>> AND YOU ARE CURRENTLY ASKING FOR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TO OUR DIVERS TO HELP MAKE THIS RESEARCH POSSIBLE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD A VOLUNTEER NEED TO DO TO HELP IN THIS COUNT?

AND WHERE WOULD THEY PARTICIPATE?

>> SO THIS IS OPPORTUNITY THAT THE FLORIDA SEA GRANT ACTUALLY RUNS.

AND IT THAT'S REALLY A OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVERS WHO ARE ALREADY OUT THERE DIVING ANYWAY.

SO THERE'S A SHORT TRAINING PROTOCOL.

THEY CAN DO IT ON YOUTUBE AND KIND OF LEARN AND ABOUT THE STANDARDIZED WAY THAT WE ASK FOR INFORMATION TO BE REPORTED.

THEY'RE STANDARD DATA SHEETS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

AND THIS IS FOR DIVERS WHO ARE ALREADY OUT ON THE WATER.

WE DON'T ORGANIZE THE BOATS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCED.

DIVERS MAYBE DIED THE SAME SPOTS REGULARLY AND SEE GOLIATH GROUPER AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT INFORMATION.

THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE.

THOSE FOLKS TOO, TAKE DATA AND PROVIDE IT ASKED WE COMPILE IT AND DO SORT OF A QUALITY CONTROL.

AND THEN WE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S COLLECTED DURING THE GREAT GLASS PAPER COUNT TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT IN DIFFERENT POPULATION ASSESSMENTS.

IT'S JUST ONE PIECE OF VERY ALL PIECE OF THE GIANT PUZZLE THAT GOES INTO MANAGING A SPECIES.

BUT THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO COLLECT DATA FOR A FISH THAT A LOT OF FOLKS INTERACT WITH QUITE OFTEN.

>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, THE COASTLINE HERE IS HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF THESE PARTICULAR KINDS OF FISH, ESPECIALLY THE 10,000 ISLANDS.

>> YEAH.

SO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CENTER OF ABUNDANCE FOR GOLIATH GROUPER AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE NURSERY HABITAT THAT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PROVIDES.

WE'VE GOT THE 10,000 ISLANDS AREA.

WE'VE GOT EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, ONE GOLIATH, GROUPER OF BABIES.

THEY LOVE MANGROVE HABITAT.

SO THEY GROW UP AMONG THOSE PROPER.

IT SET THE MANGROVE HABITAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT STRUCTURE, THOSE MANGROVES PROVIDE AND THEY'LL BASICALLY SETTLE IN THE ESTUARIES AND ARE THESE MANGROVE HABITATS IN THESE SPACES?

THEY LOVE THOSE SHALLOW ENSURE ASHTRAYS WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE, THEY START OUT REALLY SMALL.

AND THEN AS THEY GET BIGGER BASICALLY UNTIL THOSE BODIES CAN'T SIT UNDER THOSE MANGO OPERATES ANYMORE AS THEY GET LARGER TYPICALLY AROUND LIKE 2 AND A HALF TO 3 FEET IN TOTAL LENGTH.

THEY DO START MOVING INTO DEEPER WATER AND HOW LARGE CAN THEY GROW?

I I'VE HEARD 1000 POUNDS.

IS THAT IS THAT TRUE?

I MEAN, 1000 POUNDS MIGHT BE A LITTLE HIGH, BUT THEY CAN DEFINITELY BE OVER 70800 POUNDS FOR SURE.

AND THEY CAN GET IT TO BE OVER 7 FEET AND TOTAL LINKS AND THEY CAN LIVE WELL INTO THEIR 50'S.

THEY'RE VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE UNDER WATER PEOPLE SOMETIMES A QUAINT SEEING THE BIG ONES LIKE WAS LIKE A LITTLE WILT WAY GUN BUST DOWN THERE BECAUSE THEY DO GET SO HUGE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DOCTOR COLLINS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

ACCORDING TO THE JOURNAL ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH, GOLIATH, GROUPERS TYPICALLY PREY ON SLOW-MOVING FISH, INCLUDING STINGRAYS, CATFISH TOAD, FISHBURNE FISH AND COW FISH.

THEY EVEN EAT SMALLER SHARKS LIKE BLACK TIP AND THEY'RE SHARKS IN ONE SINGLE GOAL.

YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE BY LOGGING ONTO WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK IS ANOTHER RECORD PYTHON HUNT ABOUT TO OPEN AS NUMBERS OF THE MASSIVE SNAKES BEGAN TO RISE.

EXPERTS ARE HOPING ANOTHER PYTHON CHALLENGE WILL HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS INVASIVE SPECIES.

IT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE JOB TO GET THE EXACT NUMBER OF BURMESE PYTHONS LURKING IN THE EVERGLADES.

RESEARCHERS BELIEVE OVER 30,000 OF THE INVASIVE SNAKES LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

BUT THEIR REMOTE HIDING SPOTS MAKE TRACKING THEM DOWN.

VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE IS GETTING AHEAD OF THE STATE CRISIS WITH THE ANNUAL PYTHON CHALLENGE.

AND THIS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED FWC IS HOPING FOR YET ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING HUNT.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS YEAR'S PYTHON HUNT AND THE THREAT, THE INVASIVE SPECIES HAVE ON SOUTH FLORIDA'S ECOSYSTEM.

I AM JOINED BY KODIAK, HENCE THE BACK AND INTER AGENCY.

PYTHON MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR WITH FWC.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO REGISTRATION FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT HAS JUST OPENED.

HOW IMPORTANT HAS THIS ANNUAL TRADITION BECOME IN HELPING CLEAR OUT BURMESE PYTHONS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY BEEN BECOMING A A LARGER PART OF PYTHON MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT EVENT NOT ONLY FOR REMOVING PYTHONS ON A YEARLY BASIS, BUT ALSO FOR ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AND REALLY SPREADING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS GROWING PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

>> SO THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE THINK OF THE EVERGLADES, THEY'LL THINK, WELL, IT'S EASILY A HOME OF REPTILES AND LIZARDS.

BUT FOR ANYONE THAT'S UNFAMILIAR WITH THE BURMESE PYTHON, HOW DID THEY GET INTO SOUTH FLORIDA AND WHY IS THEIR INCLUSION IN THE EVERGLADES?

SUCH A BIG DEAL THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.

THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED BACK IN THE 70'S AND 80'S.

PRIMARILY THROUGH THE PET TRADE.

AND HAVE BEEN SLOWLY ESTABLISHING OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL DECADES THEY'RE REALLY AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD A SPECIES OF SNAKE THIS LARGE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ITS HISTORY.

SO THEY'RE REALLY POSING A THREAT TO A LOT OF OUR OUR NATIVE SPECIES THAT THEY.

CONSUME FOR THEIR OWN SURVIVAL.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING PRETTY EXTENSIVE IMPACTS IN A LOT OF OUR OUR NATIVE MAMMAL SPECIES IN PARTICULAR, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE BIRD SPECIES THAT WE HAVE.

>> AND I KNOW LAST YEAR'S HUNT REMOVED A COMPETITION RECORD 294 INVASIVE PYTHONS.

I BELIEVE TOTAL IN THE EVENT'S HISTORY.

IT'S HAD OVER 1000 REMOVALS.

SO DOES THIS IMPACT FROM THE HUNT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN STOPPING THE PYTHON POPULATION IS FROM INCREASE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

>> I THINK IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, RIGHT?

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IS GOING ON.

EVERY PYTHON REMOVED HELPS BECAUSE THEY DO CONSUME SO MANY OF OUR NATIVE SPECIES.

I THINK THE THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR THE PIKE ON CHALLENGE IN ITSELF BECAUSE IT IS ONLY A 10 DAY EVENT IS REALLY FOR FOR OUTREACH.

EDUCATION, SPREADING AWARENESS.

YOU KNOW, WE BRING AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE TO THIS EVENT THAT KIND OF OPENS PEOPLE, EYES ACROSS THE WORLD ABOUT THE PYTHON PROBLEM THAT WE'RE HAVING IN FLORIDA.

SO IT REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP AND HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED.

>> AND THEN SO WHAT IS THE GOAL FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENT?

ARE YOU HOPING FOR ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR OR HAVE YOU SEEN MAYBE THE NUMBERS OF THE PYTHONS GETTING UNDER CONTROL?

SO THAT MAY BE A LOWER NUMBER COULD ACTUALLY BE SEEN AS A POSITIVE.

>> THAT CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY ONE OF THESE YEARS WILL START SEEING A TREND LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF REMOVALS WILL BE GREAT.

YOU KNOW.

EVEN IF WE CAN GET PAST THE 250, EVEN 300 PYTHONS REMOVE THIS YEAR.

MARK, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

>> AND THEN BESIDES THIS ANNUAL HUNT, I KNOW THAT THIS YEAR THERE'S BEEN NEW TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCED TO HELP KIND OF CONTROL THE POPULATION.

THERE WAS A STORY I BELIEVE LATE LAST YEAR ABOUT REMOTE CONTROL RABBITS BEING RELEASED INTO THE EVERGLADES.

AND THEN WE TALKED WITH ONE GROUP THAT IS USING INFRARED TO TRY TO TRACK NESTS.

SO WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE BY FWC AND THEIR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP KIND OF CONTROL DOES POPULATION AND GET THINGS UNDER CONTROL.

SO THE EVERGLADES CAN RETURN TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THOSE ISSUES WERE.

>> WE HAVE TO COME AT IT FROM FROM EVERY ANGLE THAT WE CAN.

>> SO THEN GOES OUT TO SEA TO REMOVE PYTHONS.

BUT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ULTIMATELY BEST WAY TO DO THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BRINGING IN ALL KINDS OF PARTNERS, ALL KINDS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT STRATEGIES GOING TO BE THE BEST MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN FOR ANYBODY THAT >> IS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT PYTHONS OR MAYBE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE HUNT.

WHERE CAN THEY GO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S FLORIDA PYTHON CHALLENGE?

>> YES, WE HAVE A WEBSITE SET UP SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CHALLENGE.

YOU CAN FIND IT AT FL PYTHON CHALLENGE DOT ORG AND IT'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

SO PROVIDED INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER AND IT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE PYTHON PROBLEM AS WELL AS WELL AS LINKS TO OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

>> KODIAK HENCE THE BACK FROM FWC.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH THIS YEAR'S PYTHON CHALLENGE AND OTHER WAYS BEING IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT THE EVERGLADES.

BE SURE TO HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM WITH THE STRESS OF MANAGING LIFE, GETTING MORE DIFFICULT.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE UNDER CONTROL.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE YOUR LIFE AND MANAGE YOUR STRESS LEVELS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WGCU DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.