Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

What Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission does

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is a state government agency established in 1999 through the merger of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and the Marine Fisheries Commission. FWC manages Florida's fish and wildlife resources, issues recreational and commercial licenses and permits, enforces wildlife and boating laws, manages Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), and conducts conservation research. The agency is headquartered in Tallahassee at the Farris Bryant Building and operates through five regional offices covering all 67 Florida counties under a seven-member Commission appointed by the Governor.

FWC's product portfolio is built around a multi-platform licensing and regulatory system. GoOutdoorsFlorida.com serves as the authorized online provider for recreational licenses, CLS Online (Commercial Licensing System) handles commercial licensing with all commercial payments and applications mandated online effective November 1, 2025, and the Fish|Hunt FL mobile app (iOS/Android) enables license management, regulation access, and outdoor recreation tools. The portfolio spans recreational fishing and hunting licenses, Wildlife Management Area permits ($26.50 annual, $126.50 five-year), charter captain and boat licenses ($201.50 to $801.50 by passenger capacity), commercial saltwater and freshwater licenses, captive wildlife permits, Limited Entry/Quota Hunt permits, and accessibility accommodations for persons with disabilities. Additional services include the Wildlife Alert reporting hotline (888-404-FWCC) with rewards up to $1,000, the annual Florida Python Challenge for invasive species removal, and the Captive Wildlife regulatory program covering mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

FWC's revenue model relies on license and permit fees set by the Florida Legislature, legislative appropriations, and federal grants, with state law guaranteeing fishing license revenue flows directly to the agency. Distribution is omnichannel: online via GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, in-person at county tax collector offices and licensed agents statewide, via toll-free phone (888-FISH-FLORIDA, 888-HUNT-FLORIDA), and through the mobile app. The agency serves both Florida residents and the state's substantial visitor population engaged in hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife-related recreation, plus a base of commercial operators (charter captains, commercial fishermen, wholesale dealers, captive wildlife facilities).

Name

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Legal name

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Website

https://myfwc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is a Florida state government agency that manages fish and wildlife resources, issues recreational and commercial licenses, enforces wildlife laws, and manages public Wildlife Management Areas across all 67 Florida counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation and Natural Resource Management

NAICS

Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (114), Fishing (1141), Hunting and Trapping (114210)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife conservation services
• Recreational fishing licenses
• Hunting permits
• Commercial fishing licensing
• Wildlife management areas

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Recreational Licenses: Fees from recreational hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses sold to Florida residents and visitors. State law guarantees money from fishing license sales goes to FWC.
2. Management Area Permits: Annual ($26.50) and five-year ($126.50) permits for access to Wildlife Management Areas. Daily use permits also available.
3. Charter Licenses: Charter Captain Licenses (ranging $201.50-$801.50 based on passenger capacity) and Charter Boat Licenses for for-hire fishing operations.
4. Special Use Permits: Recreational Use Permits, Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail Camping Permits, Alternative Mobility Permits, Geocache Permits, Special Use Vehicle Permits, and Special Event Authorizations for management areas.
5. Vessel and Pier Licenses: Annual recreational vessel license ($2,001.50) and saltwater fishing pier license ($501.50).
6. Commercial Saltwater Licenses: Saltwater Products Licenses, Restricted Species Endorsements, and various endorsements for blue crab, spiny lobster, stone crab, marine life, sponges, shrimp production, and wholesale/retail dealer licenses.
7. Commercial Freshwater Licenses: Commercial freshwater fishing licenses ($25 resident, $100 non-resident), freshwater fish and frog dealer's licenses, and conditional/prohibited species permits.
8. Captive Wildlife Permits: Licenses and permits for possession, sale, and exhibition of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians including Class I, II, III wildlife, venomous reptiles, and game animals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FWC issues recreational and commercial licenses and permits for fishing, hunting, boating, and captive wildlife in Florida, and sells them through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, the CLS Online commercial licensing system, the Fish|Hunt FL mobile app, tax collector offices, license agents, and phone lines. It also manages Wildlife Management Areas for public hunting and recreation, enforces wildlife and boating laws through its Law Enforcement division, and operates reporting and educational programs such as Wildlife Alert and Living with Wildlife.

Product overview

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) operates a multi-platform licensing and regulatory system centered around GoOutdoorsFlorida.com for recreational licenses, CLS Online for commercial licensing, and the Fish|Hunt FL mobile app. The product portfolio includes recreational and commercial fishing/hunting licenses, Wildlife Management Area permits, captive wildlife licenses, charter operator licenses, and accessibility accommodations. FWC also provides regulatory resources for saltwater/freshwater fishing, hunting, and boating, alongside the Wildlife Alert reporting system for violations. The integrated platform enables license purchases, permit applications, quota hunt drawings, and wildlife incident reporting across Florida's five administrative regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GoOutdoorsFlorida.com Official authorized online platform for purchasing recreational fishing, hunting, and boating licenses and permits in Florida. Integrated with FWC systems for license verification, management, and storage.
• Fish|Hunt FL Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that enables license renewal, purchase, and storage; access to sunrise/sunset times, feed times, regulations, boat ramp locations, seas, and tide stations.
• CLS Online (Commercial Licensing System) Online commercial licensing system for purchasing commercial saltwater and freshwater licenses, ordering tags, and submitting payments. Effective November 1, 2025, all commercial payments and applications must be submitted online through CLS Online.
• Recreational Fishing and Hunting Licenses Recreational licenses for hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing sold to Florida residents and visitors. State law guarantees money from fishing license sales goes to FWC.
• Management Area Permits Annual ($26.50) and five-year ($126.50) permits for access to Wildlife Management Areas, plus daily use permits and special use permits for recreational use, camping, alternative mobility, geocaching, and special events.
• Saltwater Charter Licenses Licenses for charter captains and charter boats to carry paying customers for saltwater fishing, with tiers based on passenger capacity (4, 10, or 11+ customers), plus Charter Snook and Charter Lobster permits.
• Saltwater Products License (SPL) License required for commercial harvesting and selling of saltwater products including fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and marine life. Available as Individual, Crew, or Vessel SPL with endorsements for blue crab, spiny lobster, stone crab, marine life, sponges, shrimp production, and restricted species.
• Commercial Freshwater Licenses Licenses for commercial freshwater fishing including Resident and Non-Resident Commercial Freshwater Fishing Licenses, Freshwater Fish and Frog Dealer's Licenses, and Wholesale Buyer's Licenses for non-residents.
• Vessel and Pier Recreational Licenses Annual Recreational Vessel License ($2,001.50) covering anyone saltwater fishing from a recreational vessel where no fee is paid, and Saltwater Fishing Pier License ($501.50) covering everyone fishing from that pier.
• Limited Entry and Quota Hunt Permits Drawing-based permits for quality public hunting opportunities on Wildlife Management Areas and other public lands, including alligator hunts, antlerless deer permits, bear harvest permits, dove hunts, quota hunts, and special-opportunity hunts.
• Captive Wildlife Licenses and Permits Licenses and permits for possession, sale, and exhibition of captive wildlife including Class I, II, and III wildlife licenses, venomous reptile permits, game animal permits, and permits for importation, game farm, hunting preserve, rehabilitation, and falconry.
• Wildlife Permits (Alligator, Gopher Tortoise, Marine Turtle) Comprehensive wildlife permits including statewide and private lands alligator hunts, nuisance alligator permits, alligator farming, conditional/prohibited species permits, gopher tortoise permits, and marine turtle permits.
• Accessibility Accommodations for Hunters and Anglers Programs ensuring access to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation for persons with disabilities, including Disabled Resident Hunting and Fishing License, Adaptive Equipment for the Blind Permit, Alternative Mobility Permit, Mobility-Impaired Certification, and Special Use Vehicle Permit.
• Boating Licenses and Navigation Permits Boating safety education requirements (mandatory for those born after January 1, 1988), vessel registration information, protection zone permits, waterway marker permits, and paddling trail camping permits.
• Wildlife Alert Reward Program Program encouraging citizens to anonymously report fish, wildlife, and boating violations via the Wildlife Alert hotline (888-404-FWCC) or online, with rewards up to $1,000 based on violation level.
• Living with Wildlife Program Program helping resolve human-wildlife conflicts through Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Biologists, species profiles, tips for securing attractants, guidance on injured or orphaned wildlife, and nuisance wildlife control information.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GoOutdoorsFlorida.comcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGo Outdoors Florida is the approved and authorized provider of online fishing and hunting licenses for the State of Florida. This is the primary digital channel through which FWC distributes licenses and permits to the public.
• Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management CouncilminorOthersFederal council establishing regulations for red snapper and other species in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. FWC coordinates state regulations with federal requirements.
• South Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilminorOthersFederal council managing fisheries in South Atlantic waters. FWC coordinates saltwater fishing regulations with federal requirements for this region.
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor VehiclesminorOthersManages vessel registration and titling. FWC requires commercial vessel registration for commercial fishing operations.
• Florida Department of State Division of CorporationsminorOthersAll businesses applying for commercial saltwater or freshwater licenses must be registered with this department prior to submitting applications.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliesminorOthersDetermines eligibility for saltwater fishing license exemption for Florida residents participating in food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid programs.
• Agency for Persons with DisabilitiesminorOthersProvides proof of eligibility for Florida residents certified as clients for developmental disabilities services to receive freshwater fishing license exemption.
• Wildlife Alert Reward AssociationminorOthersNonprofit organization supporting the Wildlife Alert program that encourages citizens to report fish, wildlife and boating violations. Accepts donations to support reward program.
• International Wildlife CrimestoppersminorOthersInternational organization supporting wildlife crime reporting and enforcement. FWC links to their website for additional reporting resources.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: North Carolina state agency responsible for hunting, fishing, and boating licensing, inland fisheries, and wildlife management. Operates a similar license-based revenue model with recreational and commercial licensing categories.
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: South Carolina state agency managing fish, wildlife, and natural resources through licensing, permitting, and enforcement. Comparable regional peer with similar coastal/saltwater regulatory portfolio to FWC.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: Louisiana state agency administering recreational and commercial fishing, hunting licenses, and wildlife management. Strong functional overlap with FWC given both states' significant saltwater commercial fisheries.
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas state agency with parallel regulatory responsibilities over fish, wildlife, hunting, fishing, and boating licensing. Directly comparable mandate, funding structure, and service portfolio to FWC across recreational, commercial, and special-use licensing.
• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Alabama state agency issuing hunting and fishing licenses, managing state-owned wildlife management areas, and regulating freshwater and saltwater fishing. Comparable mandate and operational structure to FWC.
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: California state agency issuing hunting and fishing licenses, managing wildlife areas, and enforcing fish and wildlife regulations. Closely comparable to FWC in scope, regulatory authority, and license-based revenue model.
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Georgia state agency operating the Wildlife Resources Division that issues hunting and fishing licenses, manages wildlife management areas, and enforces wildlife laws. Directly comparable regulatory scope to FWC.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: New York state agency administering hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses; managing wildlife; and enforcing environmental regulations. Directly comparable agency mandate and license structure to FWC.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal agency overseeing national wildlife refuges, endangered species, and federal hunting/fishing programs. Operates at a national level with overlapping regulatory responsibilities on federally managed species that intersect with FWC's mandate.
• NOAA Fisheries: Federal agency managing U.S. marine fisheries in federal waters, with regulatory authority that frequently preempts or coordinates with state-level fish and wildlife agencies like FWC on commercial saltwater licensing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MyFWC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHM28mzWFeqjXc9PCDUdc4Q
• LinkedInfacebook.com/CatchaFLMemory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission