The purpose of this rule development effort is to establish a program for persons adopting non-native animals to help prevent illegal release of non-native fish and wildlife. The effect of this effort should be to assist in the prevention of the ...

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68-5.004: Certified Non-native Wildlife Adoption
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule development effort is to establish a program for persons adopting non-native animals to help prevent illegal release of non-native fish and wildlife. The effect of this effort should be to assist in the prevention of the release of harmful non-native species in Florida.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Non-native species; Wildlife Adoption.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: James V. Antista, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, [phone]

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

68-5.004 Certified Non-native Wildlife Adoption.

It is the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to encourage persons possessing unwanted non-native fish or wildlife as pets to relinquish such pets to qualified adopters as an alternative to releasing them into Florida’s environment. In furtherance of this policy, the Commission will sponsor amnesty events for such purpose.

(1) Persons adopting nonnative species through an FWC sponsored amnesty event may accept nonnative fish or wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife.

(2) State and county wildlife control agencies may accept non-native fish and wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife.

(3) Any person relinquishing or adopting non-native fish or wildlife pursuant to this rule is hereby deemed not to be in violation of the permit requirement of subsection 68A-6.0021(2), F.A.C.

Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New________.