Aquaculture Best Management Practices

In 1998, the Florida Legislature adopted a program of Aquaculture Best Management Practices [ 714.5 kB ] 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[ ].

Aquaculture Docks

If you plan to construct or use a dock for aquaculture purposes, an Aquaculture Letter of Consent may be required.

To be authorized under the Letter of Consent, the total surface area of the aquaculture dock [ 805.4 kB ] must be 2,000 square feet or less.

How to Apply for an Aquaculture Letter of Consent

To apply for an Aquaculture Letter of Consent, complete the Aquaculture Letter of Consent application[ ] 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, Ste. 217
Tallahassee, FL 32399

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. 
• 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.

View the list of restricted/conditional species in Florida.

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 provides training in sanitary shellfish harvesting, handling and transportation practices. It is designed to help shellfish handlers minimize the growth of Vibrio bacteria and to reduce the risk of associated illnesses. 

Training may be completed either in a class or online.