68-5.004. Conditional Non-native Species  


Effective on Thursday, April 29, 2021
  • 1Live specimens of the following species, including their taxonomic successors, subspecies, or hybrids or eggs thereof may be possessed only pursuant to permit issued by the Executive Director except as provided in Rule 3468-5.005, 35F.A.C.

    36(1) Non-native freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrate species.

    44(a) Bighead carp (48Aristichthys nobilis50).

    51(b) Bony-tongue fishes (Family Arapaimidae).

    561. Arapaima (59Arapaima gigas61).

    622. Heterotis (65Heterotis niloticus67).

    68(c) Dorados (Genus 71Salminus, 72all species).

    74(d) Freshwater stingrays (Family Potamotrygonidae, all species).

    81(e) Grass carp (85Ctenopharyngodon idella87), with restrictions as provided in Rule 9468A-23.088, 95F.A.C.

    96(f) Silver carp (100Hypophthalmichthys molitrix102).

    103(g) Snail or black carp (109Mylopharyngodon piceus111).

    112(h) Nile perches (Genus 116Lates, 117all species). For owners of aquaculture facilities that are operating under permit or a certificate of registration, but which are not cultivating Nile perches as of April 11, 2007, and for owners of aquaculture facilities which are issued original permits or certificates of registration after April 11, 2007, Nile perches:

    1671. Shall be held only in indoor facilities.

    1752. Shall not be taken on a fee or for-hire basis using hook and line or rod and reel.

    194(i) Blue tilapia (198Oreochromis aureus200), except that 203Oreochromis aureus 205may be possessed, cultured, and transported without permit in all counties of the Northeast, North Central, South and Southwest Regions.

    225(j) Wami tilapia (229Oreochromis urolepis231).

    232(k) Mozambique tilapia (236Oreochromis mossambicus238).

    239(l) Nile tilapia (243Oreochromis niloticus245), except that 248Oreochromis niloticus 250may be possessed, cultured, and transported without permit in all counties of the Northeast, North Central, South and Southwest Regions.

    270(m) Walking catfish (274Clarias batrachus276).

    277(n) Blue catfish (281Ictalurus furcatus283), except that blue catfish may be possessed in the Suwannee River and its tributaries and north and west of the Suwannee River.

    306(o) Australian red claw crayfish (312Cherax quadricarinatus314) only in closed tank culture systems.

    321(p) Red swamp crayfish (326Procambarus clarkii328) and white river crayfish (334Procambarus zonangulas336).

    3371. Pond aquaculture of either species is prohibited.

    3452. Red swamp crayfish and white river crayfish may be possessed west of the Apalachicola River and its tributaries or imported for direct sale to food wholesalers and food retailers for resale to consumers without permit.

    381(q) Arowanas (Family Osteoglossidae, all species except silver arowana, 390Osteoglossum bicirrhosum392).

    393(r) Northern largemouth bass (398Micropterus salmoides salmoides401), except that intergrade largemouth bass (northern largemouth bass x Florida largemouth bass 414Micropterus salmoides floridanus417) may be possessed in the Suwannee River and its tributaries and north and west of the Suwannee River.

    436(2) Non-native mammals – Nutria (442Myocaster coypus444).

    445(3) Non-native turtles. Red-eared slider (451Trachemys scripta elegans454): red-eared sliders may be possessed only by permitted individuals or commercial import or export businesses according to the provisions of subsection 47668-5.005(4), 477F.A.C., except as provided below:

    482(a) Red-eared sliders in personal possession prior to July 1, 2007 may continue in the possession of the owner without a permit, except that red-eared sliders less than four inches carapace length may not be possessed after July 1, 2008 without a permit.

    525(b) Red-eared sliders with distinctive aberrant color patterns, including albino or amelanistic specimens, may be possessed without a permit otherwise required by this rule.

    549(4) Non-native snakes and lizards: None listed at this time.

    559Rulemaking Authority Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution. Law Implemented Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution. History–New 10-23-08, Amended 8-23-10, 12-27-18, 4-29-21.