Florida Administrative Code

(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 conduct activities with such organisms to increase the public's knowledge and awareness of Florida's marine resources. (2) Eligibility - An Education/Exhibition SAL m…

(1) The Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) Certification provides a streamlined process to accommodate members of the educational community with smaller collecting needs to allow them to conduct educational activities with aquatic organisms. A FMSEA Certificatio…

(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) Background - 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 SA…

(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…

When used in these rules, the following words shall have the indicated meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Idle Speed" and "Idle Speed No Wake" may be used interchangeably and mean that a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater than that which will mai…

(1) General Guidelines and Application Procedures: This rule sets forth criteria pertaining to the regulation of the speed and operation of vessel traffic and other activities which are otherwise prohibited by Chapter 68C-22, F.A.C. Permits for such regulated activities shall be …

Regulations established pursuant to Section 379.2431(2), F.S., and Rule 68C-22.001, F.A.C., shall be marked by regulatory markers that conform to Chapter 68D-23, F.A.C., Uniform Waterway Markers in Florida Waters. Where conflicting speed or operational restrictions are establishe…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Lee County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The primary purp…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Brevard County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where it can be assumed that manatees inhabit on a regular, periodic or continuous basis. The Commission has further determined that a like…

(1) For the purpose of protecting manatees and manatee habitat in Indian River County, the following year-round and seasonal zones are established, which shall include all associated and navigable tributaries, lakes, creeks, coves, bends, backwaters, canals, channels and boat bas…

(1) The Commission designates those portions of the Indian River and North Fork St. Lucie River, including all associated waters, within St. Lucie County as areas where manatees are frequently sighted. The Commission has further determined that manatees are assumed to inhabit the…

(1) For the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of motorboat traffic within the following manatee protection areas between the dates of November 15 and March 31 of each year, paragraphs (b), (d), and (e); year-round but seasonally-differentiated, paragraph (g); and year…

(1)(a) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Broward County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The prima…

(1) For the purpose of protecting manatees and manatee habitat in Citrus County and within closely associated portions of Levy and Hernando counties, the following year-round and seasonal zones are established, which shall include all associated and navigable tributaries, lakes, …

(1) The Commission designates those portions of the St. Johns River basin and the Halifax/Indian River and Tomoka River basin within Volusia and adjacent counties, as described below, as areas where manatees are frequently sighted. The Commission has further determined that they …

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Hillsborough County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The pri…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Manatee County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The primary …

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Charlotte County and DeSoto County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Pinellas County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The primary…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Collier County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The primary …

(1) For the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of motorboats year-round, the Martin County zones are established as follows: (a) Slow Speed Zone - 1. All navigable inland waters within Martin County within 600 feet waterward of the general contour of the shoreline, unl…

(1) For the purpose of regulating the speed and operation of motorboats within Dade County, the following year-round and seasonal zones are established, which shall include all associated and navigable tributaries, lakes, creeks, coves, bends, backwaters, canals, channels and boa…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Sarasota County (and a small portion of Charlotte County), as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas o…

(1) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Duval County, Clay County, and St. Johns County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regula…

(1)(a) The Commission hereby designates the waters within Flagler County, as described below, as areas where manatee sightings are frequent and where the best available information supports the conclusion that manatees inhabit these areas on a regular or periodic basis. The prima…

(1) This rule creates a seasonal "No Entry Zone" as defined in subsection 68C-22.002(11), F.A.C., to protect manatees at the Florida Power & Light (FPL) Cape Canaveral Energy Center Interim-Warm Water Refuge. The No Entry Zone will protect manatees from harm and disturbance by re…

The purpose of this rule chapter is to establish designated anchoring areas within Monroe County and the maximum allowable vessel draft for each area, as identified in each respective drawing, to help prevent grounding or stranding pursuant to section 327.4108, F.S. Rulemaking Au…

(1) The following anchoring limitation areas identified by boundary are designated within the waters of Monroe County: (a) Fleming Key Anchoring Limitation Area: All areas within an area of Man of War Harbor, west of Fleming Key, defined by beginning at a point designated as "A" …

(1) The following maximum vessel draft is established for each Monroe County Designated Anchoring Limitation Area (a) The maximum vessel draft for Fleming Key Anchoring Limitation Area is 6 feet. (b) The maximum vessel draft for Sigsbee Anchoring Limitation Area is 6 feet. (c) Th…

(1) Vessels anchored on the waters of Monroe County within 10 linear nautical miles of a public mooring field or a designated anchoring area for more than 90 days without pulling anchor and relocating to a new location no less than one-half linear mile away or which are found to …

(1) Definitions. As used herein, the term: (a) "Barge" means a vessel that does not have living quarters, is not propelled by its own power, and is designed to be pushed or pulled by another vessel. (b) "Safe navigation" means the ability of a vessel operator to make headway, pro…

(1) Pursuant to statutory authority granted to the Commission in Section 327.4107, F.S., the Commission hereby establishes the Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), as part of a derelict vessel prevention program. The VTIP program will be administered by the Commission to allow a vessel…

The Commission shall issue via an electronic permitting system a no-cost permit for the long-term anchoring of a vessel within the waters of this state upon receiving an electronic application, available at https://myfwc.com/boating/lt-anchoring-permit/ that includes the followin…

Specific Authority 206.606, 376.15 FS. Law Implemented 206.606, 376.15, 823.11 FS. History-New 11-11-85, Formerly 16N-16.29, Amended 5-20-86, Formerly 16N-16.029, 62N-16.029, Amended 7-6-08, Repealed 12-3-08.

(1) Pursuant to paragraph 327.70(2), F.S., the Commission shall create a Florida Freedom Boater Decal to be issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at the time of vessel registration or renewal. The decal shall be valid for five (5) years. (2) Each d…

Rulemaking Authority 327.04, 327.40, 327.41 FS. Law Implemented 327.40, 327.41 FS., ch. 72-55, Laws of Florida. History-New 10-20-72, Readopted 9-30-75, Formerly 16B-18.04, 16N-18.04, 16N-18.004, 62N-18.004, Repealed 11-11-10.

Rulemaking Authority 327.04, 327.40, 341.41 FS. Law Implemented 327.40, 327.41 FS., ch. 72-55, Laws of Florida. History-New 10-20-72, Readopted 9-30-75, Formerly 16B-18.05, 16N-18.05, 16N-18.005, 62N-18.005, Repealed 11-11-10.

(1) Approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is not required for ordinances adopted pursuant to Section 327.46(1)(b), F.S. Regulatory markers necessary for implementing those ordinances must be permitted as required in Sections 327.40 and 327.41, F.S., an…

(1) The Boating and Waterways Section shall notice the applicant within 30 days as to whether the application is complete or what information is needed to complete the application. (2) The Boating and Waterways Section will review and act upon a complete application within 90 day…

(1) Public Notice. The Boating and Waterways Section will provide notice of denial or approval of applications: on the Boating and Waterways Section's web page at http://www.myfwc.com/boating. In addition, notice will be sent to all parties listed in the "Boating and Waterways Se…

(1) Any ordinance submitted pursuant to Section 327.46(1)(c), F.S., and in compliance with Chapter 68D-21, F.A.C., is subject to review and approval by the Commission. (2) An ordinance establishing either an "idle speed, no wake" or a "slow speed, minimum wake" boating restricted…