Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Benefiting commercial aquaculture, conserving natural resources Division of Aquaculture 600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 217 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300

Tallahassee Office: 850-617-7600 Aquatic Plant Aquaculture: Bartow Field Office: 863-578-1870 Email: [email protected] Rules and Regulations Website: FreshFromFlorida.com

Aquatic plants are produced, Persons interested in starting a primarily in the central and nursery or farm for commercial southern regions of Florida, for production and sale of aquatic aquarium, water gardening and plants must apply for an wetland restoration markets. They Aquaculture Certificate of are available bunched, bare-root or Registration and comply with potted depending on growth Chapter 5L-3, F.A.C. and Best characteristics, desired use and Management Practices (BMPs) in value. Aquatic plants add color and accordance with Chapter 597 F.S. habitat to aquatic systems, and The Division of Aquaculture absorb nutrients which help reviews and inspects all aquaculture maintain a balanced and healthy RESTORATION PLANTS facilities and production practices, ecosystem, whether in a small Another industry for aquatic plants including aquatic plants to ensure aquarium or large, natural in Florida is the restoration market compliance with all aspects of the waterbody. Aquatic plants are also where aquatic plants can be used by BMPs. produced for smaller niche markets ecologists, engineers and other such as biofuels and food products. professionals to restore damaged wetlands or create water storage ORNAMENTAL PLANTS filtration areas for stormwater Common types of freshwater runoff. Aesthetics, hardiness and aquarium plants include Anacharis the ability to uptake nutrients are spp., Camboma spp., Aponogeton considerations in regards to native spp., Anubias spp., Cryptocoryne species used for this market and spp., Egeria densa, Echinodorus include submerged, floating and spp. and Vallisneria spp. emergent plants. Restoration Marine aquarium plants are also species include both fresh and aquacultured in Florida primarily for saltwater plants such as Cattail, use in saltwater refugiums, and Bulrush, native Lilies, includes species such as Caulerpa Pickerelweed, seagrasses and DPI regulates the horticulture spp., Chaetomorpha spp., and mangroves. sector which commercially Gracilaria spp. propagates plants. The primary role PERMITTING of DPI, with respect to the aquatic Water gardening, constructed ponds Aquatic plant nurseries are plant industry, is to oversee the for aesthetic purposes, is also a regulated by two divisions within import and export of non-native popular market for aquatic plants in the Florida Department of species and movement of pests. The Florida. Aquatic plants, such as Agriculture and Consumer Services purpose of this oversight is to Water Lilies, Lotuses, Canna, and (FDACS), the Division of prevent the introduction and spread Iris, are essential components in Aquaculture and the Division of of nuisance plants, pests or diseases ponds and water features and add Plant Industry (DPI). Pursuant to which may negatively impact beauty and value to residential or Chapter 597.004 F.S., aquatic plant Florida’s native species and commercial landscapes. growers must have an Aquaculture ecosystems. Certificate of Registration and a

Certificate of Nursery Registration. continued on back

FDACS-P– 02058 02/18 Benefiting commercial aquaculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services conserving natural resources Aquatic Plant Aquaculture: Rules and Regulations

PROHIBITIONS LICENSING Aquatic plant producers must be aware For further information about an there are two classes of Prohibited Aquaculture Certificate of Aquatic Plants in Florida. Class I Registration, the Aquaculture Best plants are not permitted for possession, Management Practices or if have any collection, transportation, cultivation, other questions regarding aquatic and importation, except as provided in plant aquaculture in Florida, please Rule 5B-64.011, F.A.C. Class II plants contact the Division of Aquaculture at may be cultured in an aquatic plant (850) 617-7616 or by email at nursery and exported out-of-state only Aquaculture_Web@ with DPI approval. FreshFromFlorida.com.

For licensing information for aquatic If you intend to culture aquatic plants, plants regarding a nursery, nursery you must employ measures to ensure stock dealer, retail outlet or wild that these plants are contained at your collection of freshwater aquatic facility. These methods are outlined in plants, contact the Division of Plant the containment section of the industry or visit: Non-native and Restricted Non-native FreshFromFlorida.com/Divisions- Species chapter of the BMPs. Offices/Plant-Industry/Business- Services/Registrations-and- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Certifications/Aquatic-Plant-Permit- A listing of all Class I and Class II For technical assistance with aquatic Information2. Prohibited Aquatic Plants is found in plants, including biology, propagation, Rule 5B-64.011, F.A.C. To remain in culture methods and growth For licensing information regarding compliance with Aquaculture BMPs, requirements, contact Dr. Lyn Gettys the wild collection of marine plants, aquaculturists indicating they wish to with the University of Florida’s Fort contact Florida Fish and Wildlife produce any Class I or Class II plants Lauderdale Research and Education Conservation Commission or visit: will need to provide authorization from Center Aquatic and Wetland Plants MyFWC.com/License/Aquatic-Plants. DPI to the Division of Aquaculture Laboratory at (954) 577-6331 or prior to importing, cultivating or [email protected] or visit Individuals that plan to sell their exporting any prohibited plant species. FLREC.IFAS.UFL.edu/Featured-3- aquatic plant products for human Menus/Research-/Aquatic-Plant- consumption must contact the The National Plant Board maintains a Management/. Division of Food Safety to determine list of Federal and State regulated if a Food Permit is required for their aquatic plant species, which can be For habitat restoration aquaculture operation. For more information visit: used to determine specific regulations assistance, contact Dr. Joshua FreshFromFlorida.com/Divisions- that may apply to the importation/ Patterson at The Florida Aquarium’s Offices/Food-Safety. exportation of aquatic plants to or from Center for Florida. Note that this list may not be Conservation in Apollo Beach at completely up-to-date with individual (813) 419-4917 or state regulations. Farmers should [email protected]. confirm regulations on a case-by-case basis.