68B-8.010. Stock Collection and Release Special Activity License

(1) The purpose of a Stock Collection and Release SAL is to ensure activities involving the collection or release of marine organisms for purposes including but not limited to mitigation, rehabilitation, rescue, restoration, or scientific research are conducted in a manner that preserves the health and genetic diversity of the wild stock native to Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters. (2) Eligibility – A Stock Collection and Release SAL may be issued only to the following: (a) An applicant eligible to receive a Scientific Research SAL pursuant to Rule 68B-8.006, F.A.C. (b) An owner, director, or manager of a certified aquaculture facility that holds a valid aquaculture certificate of registration issued pursuant to Section 597.004, F.S., and Chapter 5L-3, F.A.C. (c) An owner, director, or manager of a plant nursery facility who holds a valid Certificate of Nursery Registration issued pursuant to Section 581.131, F.S., and Chapter 5B-2, F.A.C. (d) A contractor with documented experience conducting successful relocation or outplanting activities with marine organisms relating to the subject matter of the proposed relocation or outplanting activity, including subsequent monitoring following such relocation or outplanting activities. (e) A restoration practitioner with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the long-term husbandry, welfare, and system management of marine vertebrate or invertebrate taxa that is relevant to the species of marine organism that is the subject of the proposed activity. If land-based nursery-related activities are requested, the applicant must also establish and maintain a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Category II accredited veterinarian who is trained to conduct health certification examinations and visual health assessments relating to the subject matter of the proposed activity. (3) Fees and Application – (a) The processing fee for a Stock Collection and Release SAL is $25.00. A processing fee is non-refundable. (b)1. General Stock Collection and Release SAL Application Form – An applicant for a Stock Collection and Release SAL must complete and submit a Stock Collection and Release SAL application form (Form DMF-SCRSAL (November 2025)), incorporated herein by reference and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18892, or 2. Relocation-only Application Form – An applicant for a Stock Collection and Release SAL who is only requesting authorization for the relocation of marine organisms must complete and submit a Stock Collection and Release for Relocation Activities SAL application form (Form DMF-SCRRSAL (November 2025)), incorporated herein by reference and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18893, or 3. Outplanting-only Application Form – An applicant for a Stock Collection and Release SAL who is only requesting authorization for the outplanting of marine organisms must complete and submit a Stock Collection and Release SAL for Outplanting Activities application form (Form DMF-SCROSAL (November 2025)), incorporated herein by reference and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18895. (4) Evaluation Criteria – In addition to the evaluation criteria set forth in subsection 68B-8.003(8), F.A.C., an application for a Stock Collection and Release SAL will be evaluated via genetic risk assessment using the flowchart titled, “Decision Process for the Genetic Risk Assessment of Release Activities” (November 2025) which is incorporated herein by reference and is available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18894. A text-only accessible version of the Decision Process for the Genetic Risk Assessment of Release Activities (November 2025) is incorporated herein by reference and is available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18896. (5) License Period – A Stock Collection and Release SAL may be valid for up to 1 year (12 months). (6) License Conditions – (a) A licensee must comply with all conditions set forth under a Stock Collection and Release SAL. (b) The Commission may include license conditions or restrictions under a Stock Collection and Release SAL related to the following subjects, as they apply to activities authorized under such license: 1. Conditions ensuring consistency with the “Decision Process for the Genetic Risk Assessment of Release Activities (November 2025).” 2. Conditions requiring health certification examinations and/or visual health assessments prior to the release of marine organisms. 3. Conditions providing for release activities in accordance with recommendations or certifications provided by the licensee’s veterinarian of record. 4. Conditions establishing threshold criteria related to environmental conditions that if exceeded may require immediate response or corrective action to prevent health decline or disease, including, but not limited to, water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, light levels, biofouling, and prevalence of disease, infestations, overgrowth, predators, or competitors. 5. Conditions establishing transportation requirements for marine organisms to prevent health decline or disease, including, but not limited to length of transport, container size, spacing, temperature, or dissolved oxygen levels. 6. Conditions establishing maintenance requirements to prevent health decline or disease, including but not limited to control of biofouling, overgrowth, overcrowding, and/or removal of predators, competitors, or dead or diseased organisms. 7. Conditions establishing monitoring requirements appropriate to the licensed activity. 8. Any other condition that may be necessary to ensure licensed activities are conducted in a manner that preserves the health and genetic diversity of the wild stock native to Florida Waters and adjacent federal waters. (7) Emergency Response – Under certain emergency conditions, such as disease outbreaks, die-off or stranding events of unknown origin, oil spills, hurricanes, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters, the Commission may impose additional restrictions or provide for permit exemptions to safeguard affected marine organisms such as, but not limited to, the coordination and direction of rescue, rehabilitation, and release activities. 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.