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.