Florida Administrative Code

As used in this rule chapter: (1) "Coral" means the corals of the Class Hydrozoa (stinging and hydrocorals); the Class Anthozoa, Subclass Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia (stony corals) and Antipatharia (black corals). (2) "Ecological Reserve" means an area of the Sanctuary consi…

(1) WESTERN SAMBOS ECOLOGICAL RESERVE - For purposes of the restrictions specified in Rule 68B-6.003, F.A.C., the Western Sambos Ecological Reserve shall consist of all state waters located within the following geographic boundary coordinates: Point Latitude Longitude 1 24°33.70ꞌ…

(1) ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AND SANCTUARY PRESERVATION AREAS - The following activities are prohibited within the Western Sambos Ecological Reserve, Tortugas North Ecological Reserve, and the Cheeca Rocks, Eastern Dry Rocks, Hens and Chickens, Newfound Harbor Key, Rock Key, and Sand K…

(1) WESTERN DRY ROCKS - For purposes of the restrictions specified in subsection (2) below, Western Dry Rocks shall consist of all state waters located within the following geographic boundary coordinates: Point Latitude Longitude 1 24°26.217ꞌN 81°57.007ꞌW 2 24°25.676ꞌN 81°57.002…

"Great barracuda" means a fish of the species Sphyraena barracuda, or any part thereof. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 11-1-15.

Minimum and Maximum Size Limits - The following size limits apply to recreational and commercial harvesters in all state and adjacent federal waters of the Gulf of America south of a line extended due west from the Collier-Lee County Line (26°19.823'N. Latitude) and all state and…

The following bag and vessel limits apply in all state and adjacent federal waters of the Gulf of America south of a line extended due west from the Collier-Lee County Line (26°19.823'N. Latitude) and all state and adjacent federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean south of a line ext…

"Blue runner" means a fish of the species Caranx crysos, or any part thereof. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 1-3-14.

(1) Recreational Bag Limits - A recreational harvester may not harvest within or without Florida Waters or land more than 100 blue runner per day or possess within or without Florida Waters more than 100 blue runner. (2) Commercial Limits - A commercial harvester is not subject t…

No person shall harvest within or without Florida Waters or land more than 100 blue runner per day, possess within or without Florida Waters more than 100 blue runner, or harvest blue runner for commercial purposes unless such person possesses a valid saltwater products license. …

The regulations in this chapter apply in all Florida Waters and in adjacent federal waters. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 1-1-20.

"Blackfin tuna" means a fish of the species Thunnus atlanticus, or any part thereof. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 1-1-20.

(1) Recreational Bag Limit - Except when harvesting pursuant to the 10-fish vessel limit provided in subsection (2) below, a recreational harvester harvesting blackfin tuna may not harvest or possess within or without Florida Waters or land more than 2 blackfin tuna per day. (2) …

(1) "East Coast Region" means all Florida Waters along the east coast north of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line at Card Sound. (2) "Spot" means a fish of the species Leiostomus xanthurus, or any part thereof. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art.…

(1) Recreational Bag Limit - A recreational harvester may not harvest or land from the East Coast Region more than 50 spot per day, or possess in or on waters of the East Coast Region more than 50 spot. (2) Commercial Vessel Limit - Commercial harvesters aboard a vessel in or on …

(1) "East Coast Region" means all Florida Waters along the east coast north of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line at Card Sound. (2) "Atlantic croaker" means a fish of the species Micropogonias undulatus, or any part thereof. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law I…

(1) Recreational Bag Limit - A recreational harvester may not harvest or land from the East Coast Region more than 50 Atlantic croaker per day, or possess in or on waters of the East Coast Region more than 50 Atlantic croaker. (2) Commercial Vessel Limit - Commercial harvesters a…

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a marine information system, hereinafter referred to as the Marine Fisheries Trip Ticket Program, as required by Section 379.2402, F.S., that provides commercial fisheries data necessary for management of sustainable fisheries in Florid…

As used in Chapter 68B-65, F.A.C.: (1) "Commercially harvested" means a marine organism harvested: (a) For sale or with intent to sell; or (b) With respect to a species for which no recreational bag limit or recreational vessel limit has been established, of a quantity greater th…

(1) Persons Responsible for Reporting - The following persons are required to report information on commercially harvested marine organisms to the Commission: (a) A wholesale dealer who purchases a marine organism in Florida from a commercial harvester. (b) A wholesale dealer who…

(1) A wholesale dealer required to report information on commercially harvested marine organisms pursuant to subsection 68B-65.003(1), F.A.C., must provide the commercial harvester who sold or otherwise transferred a marine organism to the wholesale dealer with a copy of the rele…

The submission of required trip tickets is an eligibility requirement for saltwater products licenses and wholesale dealer licenses. The Commission may revoke, suspend, or deny the renewal of the license of anyone required to report trip tickets for failure to make required repor…

The regulations in this chapter apply in all state and federal waters of Biscayne National Park. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV. Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV. Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 7-1-20.

As used in this rule chapter: (1) "Bluestriped grunt" means any fish of the species Haemulon sciurus, or any part thereof. (2) "Bonefish" means a fish of the family Albulidae, or any part thereof. (3) "Fishing" means: (a) The catching, taking, or harvesting of fish; (b) The attem…

(1) Park-Specific Minimum Size Limits - Except as provided in subsection (2), a person may not harvest from the waters of Biscayne National Park or possess or land in or on waters of Biscayne National Park a fish that is smaller than the following minimum size limits (a) Gray Tri…

(1) A recreational harvester may not harvest or possess more than 10 fish from the Major Finfish Aggregate in any combination in or on the waters of Biscayne National Park, or land more than 10 fish from the Major Finfish Aggregate within Biscayne National Park, regardless of whe…

(1) Coral Reef Protection Areas - (a) A person may not harvest or attempt to harvest any species of the families Palinuridae (spiny lobsters), Scyllaridae (slipper lobsters), or Synaxidae (furry lobsters) from the Coral Reef Protection Areas. Except for persons in continuous tran…

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognizes that there are justifiable reasons to allow the harvest, possession, or release of marine organisms that would require the waiver of one or more of the state's marine fisheries rules. Such activities include but are…

As used in Chapter 68B-8, F.A.C.: (1) "Anadromous" means species of fish that live in sea waters and migrate to fresh or estuarine waters to spawn. (2) "Aquatic Species Collection Certificate" or "ASCC" means an authorization issued pursuant to Rule 68B-8.008, F.A.C. (3) "Broodst…

(1) An SAL or ASCC is not transferable. (2) Law Enforcement Notification - A license holder must provide notice to the Commission's Division of Law Enforcement of their intent to conduct activities authorized by an SAL or ASCC no less than 24 hours prior to conducting such activi…

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 7-1-04, Repealed 5-19-25.

(1) The Commission will only approve the use of a contractor for Scientific Research SALs, Education/Exhibition SALs, Governmental Purpose SALs, or Stock Collection and Release SALs. (2) In order for a contractor to conduct scientific research, education, exhibition, or governmen…

(1) The purpose of a Scientific Research SAL is to accommodate the need for the scientific community to conduct research and monitoring activities that enhance the greater body of knowledge in support of fisheries management, marine ecology, resource conservation and enhancement,…

(1) The purpose of an Education/Exhibition SAL is to accommodate the need for the harvest of marine organisms and to conduct activities with such organisms to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of Florida's marine resources. (2) Eligibility - An Education/Exhibition SA…

(1) The Aquatic Species Collection Certificate (ASCC) provides a streamlined process to authorize members of the educational community with smaller collecting needs to conduct educational activities with aquatic organisms. The ASCC provides exemptions to certain saltwater and fre…

(1) The purpose of establishing prohibited species collection criteria is to monitor and regulate harvest and possession of prohibited species from Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters while ensuring that such activities do not adversely affect the stocks of such species. (…

(1) The purpose of a Stock Collection and Release SAL is to ensure activities involving the collection or release of marine organisms for purposes including but not limited to mitigation, rehabilitation, rescue, restoration, or scientific research are conducted in a manner that p…

(1) The purpose of an Aquaculture Broodstock Collection SAL is to allow for the harvest and possession of marine organisms as broodstock for aquaculture research, restoration, or commercial aquaculture. (2) Eligibility - An Aquaculture Broodstock Collection SAL may be issued only…

(1) The purpose of a Snook SAL is to allow the harvest of snook as broodstock for commercial aquaculture production purposes and the possession, transport, transfer, sale, receipt, or purchase of snook broodstock progeny, as well as to ensure these activities are conducted in a m…

(1) No person shall use any gear or equipment to harvest a marine organism if the gear is not allowed by rule of the Commission, Chapter 379, F.S., or the Constitution of the State of Florida unless such person has first obtained authorization for such gear via an SAL or an exemp…

(1) The purpose of a Gear Innovation SAL is to allow for harvesting gear not historically or traditionally used within Florida to be evaluated, monitored, and tested. The Commission may use the information collected pursuant to a Gear Innovation SAL to evaluate the impact that a …

(1) The purpose of a Governmental Purpose SAL is to allow government agencies to use non-conforming gear to meet the needs of public health, safety, or welfare. (2) Eligibility - A Governmental Purpose SAL may be issued only to a state or federal agency or to a municipal or count…

(1) The purpose of a Nonprofit Corporation SAL is to allow for a nonprofit corporation to use non-conforming gear and to harvest and sell marine organisms to scientific research, education, or exhibition entities to financially support scientific research, education, or exhibitio…

(1) The purpose of a Marine Chemical SAL is to monitor the use of marine chemicals for the live harvest of marine organisms. (2) Eligibility - A Marine Chemical SAL may be issued to: (a) A person who holds any other type of SAL. (b) A commercial harvester of marine life species, …

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History-New 7-1-04, Repealed 5-19-25.

The Commission may conduct an activity that requires a waiver of state marine fisheries rules, or enter into a written agreement with a public or private organization to conduct such activity on its behalf, when such activity is in the best interest of the public of the State of …

(1) This rule chapter implements Section 379.2431(2), F.S., (the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act) by establishing restrictions to protect manatees from harmful collisions with motorboats and from harassment; to protect manatee habitat, such as seagrass beds, from destruction by boa…