AQUACULTURE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUAL November 2016 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture Holland Building, Suite 217 600 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 www.FreshFromFlorida.com FDACS-02034 Rev. 11/2016 Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual, Incorporated into Rule 5L-3.004, F.A.C. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction . 1 II. Compliance Monitoring . 2 A. Compliance Requirements. 3 B. Inspection Protocol . 3 C. Penalties . 3 III. Federal Permitting . .. .. 4 IV. Water Resources . 6 A. Water Supply Considerations . 6 B. Water Conservation and Reuse . 6 C. Saltwater Sources . 7 D. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems . 7 E. Effluent Treatment . 8 F. Water Quality Enhancement Practices . 10 G. Dual Use of Permitted Stormwater Treatment Ponds . 12 V. Construction. 13 A. New Construction . .. 13 B. Aquaculture Pond Reclamation . 14 C. Wetlands Protection and Conservation . 14 D. Floodplain Issues . 16 E. Erosion Control Guidelines . 16 F. Water Attenuation Criteria . 17 G. Stormwater Sources and Management . 17 H. Industry Specific Criteria . 18 I. Excavated Ponds . 18 J. Watershed Ponds . 19 K. Pit Ponds . .. 20 L. Pipe Placement . 21 M. Aquaculture Docks . 21 VI. Containment . 26 A. Native Species Containment . 26 B. Nonnative Species Containment . 26 C. Restricted Nonnative Species Containment . 27 D. Alternative Containment Practices . 29 E. Prohibited Species . 29 F. Transgenic Species . 30 FDACS-02034 Rev. 11/2016 Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual, Incorporated into Rule 5L-3.004, F.A.C. VII. Marine Net Pens and Cages . 31 A. Site Selection . 31 B. Feed Management . 32 C. Solid Waste Management and Disposal . 34 D. Escape Management . 35 E. Aquaculture Facility Operations and Maintenance . 38 F. Health Management . 40 G. Record Keeping . 41 VIII. Penaeid Shrimp Culture . 42 A. Containment . 42 B. Effluent Treatment . 42 C. Penaeid Shrimp Health . 43 IX. Sturgeon Culture . 44 A. Species . 44 B. Containment . 44 C. Animal Health . 45 X. Shellfish Culture . 46 A. Resource Protection . 46 B. Genetic Protection . 46 C. Health Management . 47 D. Upland Facility Operations . 49 E. Submerged Lands Grow out . 49 F. Mechanical Harvesting . 51 G. Public Health Protection . 53 XI. Live Rock and Marine Life Culture . 56 XII. Aquatic Plants . 58 A. Fertilizer Application . 58 B. Regulatory Requirements . 58 XIII. Aquatic Organism Health Management . 60 XIV. Disposal of Dead Animals . 63 XV. Preventing Wildlife Depredation . 64 XVI. Shipment, Transportation, and Sale . 65 FDACS-02034 Rev. 11/2016 Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual, Incorporated into Rule 5L-3.004, F.A.C. XVII. Aquaculture Chemical and Drug Handling . 67 A. Chemical Usage and Handling . 67 B. Spill Management . 67 C. Drug Usage and Handling . 68 XVIII. Aquatic Animal Welfare . 69 XIX. Appendix . 70 FDACS-02034 Rev. 11/2016 Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual, Incorporated into Rule 5L-3.004, F.A.C. INTRODUCTION Florida aquaculture has a vested interest in protecting and managing environmental resources. As conscientious environmental stewards, this responsibility lies with each aquatic farmer. The Florida Legislature and the aquaculture farming community worked to amend the Florida Aquaculture Policy Act, Chapter 597, Florida Statutes (F.S.), to create the Aquaculture Certificate of Registration and Aquaculture Best Management Practices (BMPs). The BMPs in this manual are intended to preserve environmental integrity while eliminating cumbersome, duplicative and confusing environmental permitting and licensing requirements. Aquaculturists following these practices meet the minimum standards necessary for protecting and maintaining off site water quality and wildlife habitat. These practices represent a mutually beneficial relationship between commercial aquaculture production and natural resource protection. These BMPs were developed specifically for Florida aquaculture to protect Florida’s natural resources and as required by Florida law are to be implemented at all certified aquaculture operations. As part of the annual aquaculture certification process, you, the Florida aquaculturist, have pledged your intention to implement these practices as part of the ongoing daily management practices at your facility. Unless authorized in statute the BMPs enumerated in this manual do not supersede other applicable federal or local authorities nor natural resource collection authorizations. Therefore, aquaculture facility operators need to be aware of the pertinent environmental regulations that affect surface water quality, navigability, wetland dredge and fill, and/or endangered species issues. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) must approve collection of broodstock, from natural populations, for aquacultural purposes. Furthermore, operators need to recognize that there are other federal, state, and local regulations not specifically listed in this manual which relate to solid and hazardous waste disposal, worker safety and building and zoning considerations. Aquatic species not specifically mentioned in the BMP manual are covered under chapters applicable to all aquaculture facilities. All certified aquaculturists are required to follow the BMPs in Chapters II through VI and XIII through XVIII, including obtaining necessary federal permits. Those few species specifically identified in this manual have unique circumstances requiring more specific management practices to mitigate the potential for environmental impacts. For a complete list of BMPs required for your aquatic species, see the Appendix. For additional information about these aquaculture BMPs, general aquaculture information or assistance in clarifying requirements specific to your aquaculture operation, please contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Aquaculture at Holland Building, Suite 217, 600 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, phone (850) 617-7600. 1 FDACS-02034 Rev. 11/2016 Aquaculture Best Management Practices Manual, Incorporated into Rule 5L-3.004, F.A.C. II. COMPLIANCE MONITORING The Best Management Practices (BMPs) in this manual are required for implementation by all holders of an Aquaculture Certificates of Registration. Anyone conducting aquacultural activities not in compliance with this manual and/or not certified by FDACS is in violation of Florida Law, and is subject to the penalties described below and required to obtain any and all permits required by the appropriate state and county or local regulatory agencies (i.e., Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Water Management District (WMD), FWC). Pursuant to Sections 597.004(2)(c) & (d), Florida Statutes (F.S.), notwithstanding any provision of law, FDEP is not authorized to institute proceedings against any person certified under this section to recover any costs or damages associated with contamination of groundwater or surface water, or the evaluation, assessment, or remediation of contamination of groundwater or surface water, including sampling, analysis, and restoration of potable water supplies, where the contamination of groundwater or surface water is determined to be the result of aquaculture practices. There is a presumption of compliance with state groundwater and surface water standards if the holder of an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration implements best management practices that have been verified by FDEP to be effective at representative sites and complies with the following: 1. Provides the department with a notice of intent to implement applicable best management practices adopted by the department; 2. Implements applicable best management practices as soon as practicable according to rules adopted by the department; and 3. Implements practicable interim measures identified and adopted by the department which.