68B-8.007. Education/Exhibition Special Activity License

(1) The purpose of an Education/Exhibition SAL is to accommodate the need for the harvest of marine organisms and to conduct activities with such organisms to increase the public’s knowledge and awareness of Florida’s marine resources. (2) Eligibility – An Education/Exhibition SAL may be issued only to the following: (a) An instructor employed by, or under the sponsorship of, a university, college, secondary school, or governmental entity, or a private institution or organization that has an established marine or environmental education curriculum. (b) A student enrolled in a public or private secondary school or an equivalent home education program maintained in accordance with Section 1002.41, F.S. 1. The parent or guardian of a student who meets the eligibility criteria in paragraph (2)(b) may apply on behalf of such student. 2. An instructor or representative from a home education program, maintained in accordance with Section 1002.41, F.S., may apply on behalf of a student enrolled in such home education program. (c) An individual who teaches in a home education program maintained in accordance with Section 1002.41, F.S. (d) A representative of a home education program association maintained in accordance with Section 1002.41, F.S. (e) A curator or director employed by or under sponsorship of a public or private aquarium, museum, university, governmental entity, or business establishment that displays marine organisms for viewing by the public and whose activities have a marine-related component. (f) An Education/Exhibition SAL authorizing the collection of giant manta ray (Mobula birostris) or queen conch (Aliger gigas) may only be issued to a curator or director employed by or under sponsorship of a public or private aquarium, museum, university, or governmental entity that displays marine organisms for viewing by the public, whose activities have a marine-related component, and whose facility is located in the United States of America. (3) Fees and Application – (a) The processing fee for an Education/Exhibition SAL is $25.00. A processing fee is non-refundable. (b) An applicant for an Education/Exhibition SAL must complete and submit an Education/Exhibition SAL application form (Form DMF-ESAL (May 2026)), which is incorporated herein by reference and is available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19699. (c) An application for an Education/Exhibition SAL involving the collection of prohibited species may only be submitted during the following application periods: 1. Except as provided in (c)2., beginning April 1 and continuing through April 30 each year, beginning October 1 and continuing through October 31 each year. 2. Applications requesting to collect giant manta ray (Mobula birostris) or queen conch (Aliger gigas) may only be submitted beginning March 1 and continuing through March 15 each year, and beginning September 16 and continuing through September 30 each year. (4) Evaluation Criteria – In addition to the evaluation criteria set forth in subsection 68B-8.003(8), F.A.C., an application for an Education/Exhibition SAL will be evaluated based on the following criteria as applicable to the request: (a) Educational program curriculum. (b) Qualifications of the educator(s) requesting to conduct activities pursuant to an SAL. (c) Conservation and education benefits of presentations, displays, and other informational materials designed to educate the public about the marine organisms requested for harvest and display. (d) Current facility inventory of each species requested for harvest. (e) The physical environment in which the species will be maintained and any potential maintenance or husbandry concerns. This includes consideration of the expected life span and maximum anticipated size of the species, and whether the facility is adequate to accommodate the marine organism for the remainder of its life. (5) An Education/Exhibition SAL authorizing the collection of giant manta ray (Mobula birostris) or queen conch (Aliger gigas) may only be issued following a vote of the Commissioners to approve the application pursuant to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Policy on Marine Prohibited Species and Education/Exhibition Special Activity Licenses, incorporated under subparagraph 68B-8.009(4)(b)10., F.A.C. (6) License Periods – (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), an Education/Exhibition SAL may be valid for up to 3 years (36 months). (b) The license period for an Education/Exhibition SAL issued for the collection of a prohibited species shall not exceed 1 year (12 months). (7) License conditions – A licensee must comply with all conditions set forth under an Education/Exhibition SAL. Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 7-1-04, Amended 11-19-09, 5-19-25, 2-1-26, 7-29-26.