In 1998, the Florida Legislature adopted a program of
Aquaculture Best Management Practices
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to ensure that aquaculture facilities do not negatively impact the environment.
Certified aquaculturists who comply with mandatory BMPs are presumed to be in compliance with state groundwater and surface water standards.
Compliance Monitoring
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) staff conduct unannounced BMP compliance inspections at least once per year and reinspect as needed. Staff review records and check for compliance with all applicable BMPs.
Construction
All new construction, whether at a new facility or an existing one, must comply with the New Construction BMPs.
Ponds
All pond construction must maintain a minimum 50-foot buffer from wetlands, and aquaculture facilities must be designed to prevent increased flooding to adjacent properties.
Additionally, all fill must remain on the property unless appropriate permits have been obtained through the county or city.
Excavated ponds must be constructed in accordance with the USDA-NRCS Field Office or UF/IFAS Extension guidelines [ Adobe PDF Document ].
Aquaculture Docks
If you plan to construct or use a dock for aquaculture purposes, an Aquaculture Letter of Consent may be required.
How to Apply for an Aquaculture Letter of Consent
To apply for an Aquaculture Letter of Consent, complete the Aquaculture Letter of Consent application [ Adobe PDF Document ] and mail it, along with measurements and drawings of the dock, to:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Aquaculture
600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 217
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
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Aquaculture Docks
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Water Resources
Depending on your water usage, you may need to obtain a Water or Consumptive Use Permit issued by your Water Management District.
Effluent Treatment
Several options for effluent treatment are listed as Best Management Practices:
- Detention Facility Option: Detention facilities treat production water via temporary storage in a pond or ditch system prior to discharge.
- Filter Strip Option: Filter strips treat production water by passing it over vegetated land.
- Wetland Treatment Option: Water from a detention facility or filter strip is treated by passing it through a constructed wetland prior to discharge.
- Integrated Production Option: Production water is used to produce a secondary aquaculture crop or agronomic crop.
- Mechanical and Biological Filtration: For systems culturing filter feeders (corals, shellfish, etc.), effluent from hatchery production systems or nursery systems where feed is added may be treated by implementing a series of mechanical and biological filtration prior to discharge to waters of the state.
- Injection Well: Production water is placed deep underground. Injection wells are permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
- Retention Option or Zero Surface Water Discharge: All effluent is retained on site.
Containment
All aquaculture products must be contained on site. Any method of containment that will effectively prevent release or escape may be used.
Containment of Restricted Species
Restricted species must meet additional BMPs, including more stringent requirements for containment:
- Restricted species cultured outdoors (when permissible) must be held in a water body that has the lowest point of the top edge of its levee, dike, bank or tank at least 1 foot above the 100-year flood elevation issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- There must be effective measures to prevent theft of restricted species.
- All holding, transport and culture systems must consist of a solid construction and be designed to prevent escape of all life stages of the restricted species and deter predator access.
- Restricted species may be taken on a fee or for-hire basis using hook and line or rod and reel as long as anglers are accompanied by the facility operator or employee and no live animals leave the facility with persons that do not possess a Restricted Species Authorization or Conditional Species Authorization for the particular species.
- Nile perches (Genus Lates, all species including barramundi) shall not be taken on a fee or for-hire basis using hook and line or rod and reel.
Restricted Species Authorization
A Restricted Species Authorization letter from FDACS or a Conditional Species Authorization from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is required for possession, transport and sale of restricted species. The Restricted Species Authorization issued by FDACS is species specific and expires on June 30 of each year. For more information, call (850) 617-7600 or email Serina.Rocco@FDACS.gov.
The list of species that require approval prior to culture by obtaining a Restricted Species Authorization from FDACS is incorporated into the
BMP manual
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Shipment, Transportation and Sale
All aquaculture products must be identified with an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration number (AQ#) when transported from harvest to point of sale.
All aquaculture products must be transported in containers that separate aquacultured products from wild stocks. The exterior of all containers must clearly display the seller’s AQ#, the source location, species identification, species quantity and date of harvest. Containers can be directly labeled or have a securely attached tag.
The receipt, bills of sale, bills of lading or other such manifest must also show the AQ#. If the product is sold to a Florida grow-out facility, the AQ# of the buyer must also be included.
Sale records must also contain at least the following information:
- Date of sale,
- Name and address of seller,
- Seller's Aquaculture Certificate of Registration number,
- Name and address of purchaser,
- Purchaser's Aquaculture Certificate of Registration number (if a Florida-certified aquaculture facility), and
- Quantity and species identification of aquaculture product sold.
Shipment, Transportation and Sale of Restricted Species
Facilities culturing restricted species must maintain all records and receipts for live purchases and/or live sales for at least two years.
Sales records must include:
- Date of sale,
- Name and address of seller,
- Seller's Aquaculture Certificate of Registration number,
- Name and address of purchaser,
- Purchaser's Aquaculture Certificate of Registration number (if a Florida-certified aquaculture facility),
- Quantity and species identification of aquaculture product sold, and
- A copy of the Restricted Species Authorization or Conditional Species Authorization from the purchaser.
Shellfish Harvester Education Training
All Aquaculture Certificate of Registration applicants who list shellfish (clams, oysters, scallops) as a product on their application must annually complete the Shellfish Harvester Education Training.
Shellfish Harvester Education allows Florida’s shellfish industry to meet National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) requirements for food safety training related to harvest and post-harvest handling approaches to minimize the growth of Vibrio and reduce the risk of consumer illness.
You may complete your training online or you may complete it in person at any of the following FDACS offices:
- Apalachicola Shellfish Center: (850) 653-8317
- Cedar Key Office: (352) 543-1084
- Melbourne Office: (321) 984-4890
- Panama City Office: (850) 236-2200
- Port Charlotte Office: (941) 613-0954
- Tallahassee Office: (850) 617-7600
Training Guidance
Refer to the following guidance documents as needed for Shellfish Harvester Education Training.
