The Florida Senate

370.0603  Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund; purposes.--

(1)  The Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund within the Department of Environmental Protection shall serve as a broad-based depository for funds from various marine-related activities and shall be administered by the department for the purposes of:

(a)  Funding for marine research.

(b)  Funding for fishery enhancement, including, but not limited to, fishery statistics development, artificial reefs, and fish hatcheries.

(c)  Funding for marine law enforcement.

(d)  Funding for administration of licensing programs for recreational fishing, saltwater products sales, and related information and education activities.

(e)  Funding for the operations of the Marine Fisheries Commission.

(f)  Funding for titling and registration of vessels.

(g)  Funding for marine turtle protection, research, and recovery activities from revenues that are specifically credited to the trust fund for these purposes.

(h)  Funding activities for rehabilitation of oyster harvesting areas from which special oyster surcharge fees are collected, including relaying and transplanting live oysters.

(2)  The Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund shall receive the proceeds from:

(a)  All license fees collected pursuant to ss. 370.06 and 370.07.

(b)  All funds collected from the registration of vessels and other fees pursuant to s. 327.25.

(c)  All fees collected pursuant to ss. 370.062, 370.063, and 370.142.

(d)  All fines and penalties pursuant to s. 370.021.

(e)  Other revenues as provided by law.

History.--s. 24, ch. 96-321.