Nick Wiley, Executive Director

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, simply known as the FWC, is responsible for managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.

The FWC creates the rules for protecting Florida's fish and wildlife. It consists of an unpaid seven-member board of commissioners. Commissioners are appointed by the governor and approved by the senate. They are advised and guided in their decision-making by scientists, law enforcement officers, and other experts, who are among the more than 1,800 employees of the FWC.

The FWC came into existence on July 1, 1999. It was created by Constitutional Amendment 5, which was approved by Florida voters during the 1998 general election. The agency is a combination of employees from the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and Marine Fisheries Commission, and elements of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, including the former Florida Marine Patrol.

The FWC is headquartered in Tallahassee, with five regional offices located throughout the state to serve its citizens.