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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

DIVISION OF 600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 217 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300 Tallahassee Office: (850) 617-7600 Aquatic Aquaculture: Bartow Office: (863) 578-1870 Email: [email protected] Rules and Regulations Website: www.FDACS.gov

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

FDACS-P-02058 Rev. 07/20 PROHIBITIONS LICENSING Aquatic plant producers must be For further information about an aware there are two classes of Aquaculture Certificate of Prohibited Aquatic Plants in Registration, the Aquaculture Best Florida. Class I plants are not Management Practices or if have permitted for possession, collection, any other questions regarding transportation, cultivation, and aquatic plant aquaculture in Florida, importation, except as provided in please contact the Division of Rule 5B-64.011, F.A.C. Class II Aquaculture by email at plants may be cultured in an aquatic Albert Greenberg Tropical Waterlily plant nursery and exported [email protected] or out-of-state only with DPI call (850) 617-7600. approval. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE For licensing information for A listing of all Class I and Class II For technical assistance with aquatic plants regarding a nursery, Prohibited Aquatic Plants is found aquatic plants, including biology, nursery stock dealer, retail outlet or in Rule 5B-64.011, F.A.C. To propagation, culture methods and wild collection of freshwater remain in compliance with growth requirements, contact Dr. aquatic plants, contact the Division Aquaculture BMPs, aquaculturists Lyn Gettys with the University of of Plant industry or visit: indicating they wish to produce any Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research Class I or Class II plants will need www.FDACS.gov/Divisions- and Education Center, Aquatic and to provide authorization from DPI Offices/Plant-Industry/Business- Wetland Plants Laboratory call to the Division of Aquaculture prior Services/Registrations-and- to importing, cultivating or (954) 577-6331 email at Certifications/Aquatic-Plant-Permit exporting any prohibited plant [email protected] or visit: -FAQ species. FLREC.IFAS.UFL.edu/Featured-3- Menus/Research-/Aquatic-Plant- For licensing information regarding The National Plant Board maintains a list of Federal and State regulated Management/. the wild collection of marine plants, contact Florida and Wildlife aquatic plant species, which can be For habitat restoration aquaculture Conservation Commission or visit: used to determine specific assistance, contact Dr. Joshua MyFWC.com/License/Aquatic- regulations that may apply to the Patterson at The Florida importation/exportation of aquatic Plants. Aquarium’s Center for plants to or from Florida. Note that Conservation in Apollo Beach at this list may not be completely Individuals that plan to sell their up-to-date with individual state (813) 419-4917 or by email at aquatic plant products for human regulations. Farmers should [email protected]. consumption must contact the confirm regulations on a Division of Food Safety to case-by-case basis. determine if a Food Permit is If you intend to culture aquatic required for their operation. For plants, you must employ measures more information visit: to ensure that these plants are www.FDACS.gov/Divisions- contained at your facility. These Offices/Food-Safety methods are outlined in the containment section of the Non-native and Restricted Non- native Species chapter of the BMPs. Aquatic plant in greenhouse

FDACS-P-02058 Rev. 07/20