Select a question to expand the answer.
Is an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration required if no products are sold?
No, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) does not regulate hobbyists or homeowners who grow aquatic species for personal use or consumption. Plants and animals that are listed as Restricted/Conditional are not allowed for personal use. Restricted/conditional species may be possessed only by permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a Restricted Species Authorization (RSA) letter from FDACS for a specific species.
What are the Aquaculture Best Management Practices?
Please review the
Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual
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714.5 kB
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for more information. Best Management Practices cover effluent treatment, containment, shipment requirements, and health requirements.
What are the regulations concerning the processing (icing or cutting) of aquatic products for human consumption?
Floridians that process or sell food products must possess a Food Permit from FDACS.
To operate an aquaculture facility, are any other licenses or permits needed beyond an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration?
Aquaculture facilities that use well water may need to acquire a consumptive use permit (CUP) from one of Florida's five water management districts. Please visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's website for more information.
Aquaculture activities are defined as point source dischargers under the Clean Water Act. If an aquaculture facility produces more than 100,000 pounds of product and discharges production-related water off the farm for more than 30 days per year, then a National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit is required. Call (850) 617-7600 or email Serina.Rocco@FDACS.gov for more information.
