597.004 – Aquaculture Certificate of Registration.
597.004 Aquaculture certificate of registration.— (1) CERTIFICATION.—Any person engaging in aquaculture must be certified by the department. The applicant for a certificate of registration shall submit the following to the department: (a) Applicant’s name/title. (b) Company name. (c) Complete mailing address. (d) Legal property description of all aquaculture facilities. (e) Actual physical street address for each aquaculture facility. (f) Description of production facilities. […]
597.0041 – Prohibited Acts; Penalties.
597.0041 Prohibited acts; penalties.— (1) It is unlawful for an aquaculture registrant to: (a) Commingle in the same container any shellfish aquaculture product with any wild product; (b) Transport by vessel over water both wild and aquaculture products of the same species at the same time; or (c) Violate any provision of this chapter or chapter 500. (2)(a) A person who […]
597.0042 – Public Records Exemptions; Aquaculture Records.
597.0042 Public records exemptions; aquaculture records.— (1) The following records held by the department are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution: (a) Shellfish receiving and production records generated by shellfish processing facilities licensed pursuant to s. 597.020. (b) Audit records and supporting documentation required for submerged land leases issued in […]
597.0045 – Cultured Shellfish Theft Reward Program.
597.0045 Cultured shellfish theft reward program.—There is created a cultured shellfish theft reward program, to be administered by the department, for the purpose of granting rewards to persons who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals illegally possessing, harvesting, or attempting to harvest cultured shellfish. (1) Each person who provides information leading to the […]
597.005 – Aquaculture Review Council.
597.005 Aquaculture Review Council.— (1) COMPOSITION.—There is created within the department the Aquaculture Review Council to consist of eight members as follows: the chair of the State Agricultural Advisory Council or designee and seven additional members to be appointed by the commissioner, including an alligator farmer, a food fish farmer, a shellfish farmer, a tropical fish farmer, […]
597.010 – Shellfish Regulation; Leases.
597.010 Shellfish regulation; leases.— (1) LEASE, APPLICATION FORM.—When any qualified person desires to lease a part of the bottom, water column, or bed of any of the water of this state for the purpose of growing oysters or clams, as provided for in this section, he or she shall present to the department a written application pursuant […]
597.020 – Shellfish Processors; Regulation.
597.020 Shellfish processors; regulation.— (1) The department may: (a) Adopt by rule regulations, specifications, training requirements, and codes relating to sanitary practices for catching, cultivating, handling, processing, packaging, preserving, canning, smoking, and storing oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and crabs. (b) License shellfish processors who handle oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and crabs when such activities relate to quality control, sanitary, […]
597.002 – Legislative Declaration of Public Policy Respecting Aquaculture.
597.002 Legislative declaration of public policy respecting aquaculture.—The Legislature declares that aquaculture is agriculture and, as such, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall be the primary agency responsible for regulating aquaculture, any other law to the contrary notwithstanding. The only exceptions are those areas required by federal law, rule, or cooperative agreement to be […]
597.0021 – Legislative Intent.
597.0021 Legislative intent.— (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to enhance the growth of aquaculture in this state, while protecting Florida’s environment. (2) It is also the intent of the Legislature to give the department the duty to coordinate and assist the development of aquaculture. (3) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Aquaculture Review […]
597.003 – Powers and Duties of Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
597.003 Powers and duties of Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.— (1) The department is hereby designated as the lead agency in encouraging the development of aquaculture in the state and shall have and exercise the following functions, powers, and duties with regard to aquaculture: (a) Issue or deny aquaculture certificates that identify aquaculture producers and aquaculture products, […]