Florida Amendment 2 on this year’s ballot is a proposal for voters to support adding to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. The amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.
By a vote of 154-1, the measure found bipartisan support to be the ballot this November, where Florida voters will be crucial in deciding the future of fishing and hunting rights.
“We have a group of dedicated Floridians ready to roll up their sleeves and work together,” said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Vice-Chair of Yes on 2.
“As we talk with folks across the state about the importance of supporting Amendment 2, it is clear that Florida anglers, hunters and conservationists will be critical messengers on our path to victory,” said Robert A. Spottswood, Jr., Yes on 2 Outreach Chairman. “Fishing and hunting drive our economy and our way of life here in Florida, and I am eager to begin building the diverse group of coalitions that will work to raise awareness about what’s at stake this fall.”
The group is finding support among the hunting, fishing, and environmental community, including members of the Nature Conservancy, Billfish Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson supported the group by donating $100,000 to pass the initiative this November.