The Florida Senate

597.004  Aquaculture certificate of registration.--

(1)  CERTIFICATION.--

(a)  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:

1.  Applicant's name/title.

2.  Company name.

3.  Complete mailing address.

4.  Legal property description of all aquaculture facilities.

5.  Description of production facilities.

6.  Aquaculture products to be produced.

7.  Fifty dollar annual registration fee, effective July 1, 1997.

(b)  Any aquatic plant producer certified by the department pursuant to s. 369.25 shall also be issued an aquaculture certificate of registration.

(c)  Any alligator producer with an alligator farming license and permit to establish and operate an alligator farm pursuant to the provisions and rules of chapter 372 shall be issued an aquaculture certificate of registration.

(2)  FEES.--

(a)  Effective July 1, 1997, all fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the General Inspection Trust Fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(b)  For each aquaculture certificate of registration issued pursuant to this section for freshwater fish operations under chapter 372, $40 shall be deposited into the State Game Trust Fund in the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission from the General Inspection Trust Fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(3)  IDENTIFICATION OF AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS.--Aquaculture products shall be identified while possessed, processed, transported, or sold as provided in this subsection, except those subject to the requirements of chapter 372 and the rules of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

(a)  Aquaculture products shall be identified by an aquaculture certificate of registration number from harvest to point of sale. Any person who possesses aquaculture products must show, by appropriate receipt, bill of sale, bill of lading, or other such manifest where the product originated.

(b)  Marine aquaculture products shall be transported in containers that separate such product from wild stocks, and shall be identified by tags or labels that are securely attached and clearly displayed.

(c)  Each aquaculture registrant who sells food products labeled as "aquaculture or farm raised" must have such products containerized and clearly labeled in accordance with s. 500.11. Label information must include the name, address, and aquaculture certification number. This requirement is designed to segregate the identity of wild and aquaculture products.

(4)  SALE OF AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS.--

(a)  Aquaculture products, except shellfish, snook, and freshwater aquatic species identified in chapter 372 and rules of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, may be sold without restriction so long as product origin can be identified.

(b)  Aquaculture shellfish must be sold and handled in accordance with shellfish handling regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection established to protect public health.

(5)  REGISTRATION AND RENEWALS.--

(a)  Not later than December 1, 1996, each aquaculture producer must apply for an aquaculture certificate of registration with the department. Upon department approval, the department shall issue the applicant an aquaculture certificate of registration only for the period covering December 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997. The department shall not require a registration fee only for the period covering December 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997. However, beginning July 1, 1997, and each year thereafter, each aquaculture certificate of registration must be renewed with fee, pursuant to this chapter, on July 1.

(b)  No later than October 1, 1996, the department shall send notices of registration to all aquaculture producers of record requiring them to register for an aquaculture certificate. Thereafter, the department shall send a renewal notice to the registrant 60 days preceding the termination date of the certificate of registration. Prior to the termination date, the registrant must return a completed renewal form with fee, pursuant to this chapter, to the department.

History.--s. 27, ch. 96-247; s. 54, ch. 97-98.