Important for all the frag sellers

[gambitcobra]

Florida Division of Aquaculture this morning, any store or business engaging in coral sales in the state of Florida needs to have a paper trail for every single coral they purchase. If you are purchasing from a hobbyist that is selling frags, they need to give you documentation of where this coral was purchased from so you can provide documentation to the FWC if ever needed. According to him any hobbyist engaged in raising and selling corals in Florida should have an aquaculture certificate.

So not only do all of the Florida hobbyists I purchase from need an aquaculture certificate, but they also need to be able to provide documentation/invoices for all the corals they are growing. You do not need an aquaculture certificate if you are selling to other hobbyists, but if you are selling to anyone that will resell your corals then you do.

 

[Tenshoa]

Where did you get this information?

I just got off the phone with the inspector for Florida Division of Agriculture who is coming by my house tomorrow morning for a tank inspection (for my aquaculture certification) and she made no mention of this nor have I previously seen it posted on their website (the paper trail).

I'm not saying the info isn't accurate. I just want to speak intelligently when I consult her tomorrow.

 

[toddmau5]

Where did you get this information?

I just got off the phone with the inspector for Florida Division of Agriculture who is coming by my house tomorrow morning for a tank inspection (for my aquaculture certification) and she made no mention of this nor have I previously seen it posted on their website (the paper trail).

I'm not saying the info isn't accurate. I just want to speak intelligently when I consult her tomorrow.

Its in the documentation. If you read the policies and procedures or whatever they call it it's on there. You must have documentation for ever item you purchase and you must attach your license number to everything you sell. I definitely remember seeing this information in the paperwork when I was applying

 

[hobbzz]

You do not need an aquaculture certificate if you are selling to other hobbyists...

They've always maintained that you need a license to sell no matter who purchases it, at least since they changed it to suit their needs. Did they change this policy recently?

 

[NanoDrummer09]

This is why i use cash most of the time. Are we going to have to "document" that we have a fish tank??

 

[Tenshoa]

They've always maintained that you need a license to sell no matter who purchases it, at least since they changed it to suit their needs. Did they change this policy recently?

This is correct.

However, as it was explained to me, they haven't gotten very strict with enforcing it on a hobby level and are more concerned with hobbyists selling corals to profit more similarly to a business level.

That doesn't mean that they can't fine you for selling as a hobbyist if they really want to, though.

I will get some clarifications on additional items tomorrow while she is here.

 

[snake1]

So how much is this going to cost to sell or trade a frag once or twice a year because the coral is growing to big for the tank....or would it be better to just throw the coral/ animal in the trash so i don`t have to pay a fee....

 

[hobbzz]

The license is either $75 or $100 per year, and is for one physical location. This does not nclude any licenses that may be needed for city/county, or anything the IRS may want.

I'll find the links when I get home.

 

[BeanMachine]

What about trading or giving away frags that aren't for sale?

What's the purpose in doing this besides generating more revenue?

 

[Boostable]

Im gonna give away frags and sell the ziplock baggies they come in!

 

[cnreef]

Im gonna give away frags and sell the ziplock baggies they come in!

Clever!

 

[CuzzA]

Im gonna give away frags and sell the ziplock baggies they come in!

Haha. Sounds legit to me. Saltwater isn't cheap either and those frag plugs and super glue add up.

 

[hobbzz]

http://myfwc.com/media/2781524/14-15-WholesaleRetailApplication.pdf

http://myfwc.com/license/saltwater/commercial-fishing/ - not sure how this one fits in

http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/aquarium-species/

 

[snake1]

I don`t understand why anyone is asking them what the laws are and inviting them into their homes to inspect what they are doing that is just opening the door to so many problems and giving them free money......

 

[hobbzz]

What about trading or giving away frags that aren't for sale?

What's the purpose in doing this besides generating more revenue?

Trading is a grey area. No other purpose than another revenue stream. The FWC added the phrase "any saltwater item" to the existing legislation with the specific and sole intent of targeting the hobbyists. The existing legislation already covered everything else. The hobbyists are the only ones that are newly affected. The original legislation also was not intended to include hobbyists, the FWC took it upon themselves to target the hobby.

 

[jdhuyvetter]

I don`t understand why anyone is asking them what the laws are and inviting them into their homes to inspect what they are doing that is just opening the door to so many problems and giving them free money......

FWC has visited the last two MACNA's in FL. They are cruising craiglist as well. They are also sending letters and visiting your local frag swaps.

Not opening the door to invite problems.......the problem is already here.

The bigger issue is the apparent change in attitude towards hobbyists. After the MACNA in Orlando, they were pretty clear that they really weren't after hobbyists, just the big commercial guys. This past year, they seem to be turning their eyes towards us.

 

[Tenshoa]

So how much is this going to cost to sell or trade a frag once or twice a year because the coral is growing to big for the tank....or would it be better to just throw the coral/ animal in the trash so i don`t have to pay a fee....

Again. Based on my conversation with them, they are not out to get these people. They understand that as a hobbyist this is the only alternative outside of trashing them, which they would be even less thrilled about doing. They are not punishing these people. Only people who make it obvious that they are in it for making a profit.

 

[Tenshoa]

Trading is a grey area. No other purpose than another revenue stream. The FWC added the phrase "any saltwater item" to the existing legislation with the specific and sole intent of targeting the hobbyists. The existing legislation already covered everything else. The hobbyists are the only ones that are newly affected. The original legislation also was not intended to include hobbyists, the FWC took it upon themselves to target the hobby.

+1

You seem to have a pretty good handle on this and the information you've given is on par with what the inspector told me.


She will be at my house in the morning and I will happily ask any questions that anyone wants clarification on.

 

[hobbzz]

Im gonna give away frags and sell the ziplock baggies they come in!

I was thinking of doing something like this, but am unsure of how it would go over. I have 15 years of saltwater hobby junk built up. I could easily "sell" a broken maxijet impeller for $20 and give the buyer a "free" frag lol.

Forgot to say they also have a "mobile task force" that goes from city to city trolling Craigslist and possibly forums like this for people who are selling. Fines are $500, but I've only heard of warnings being given so far.

 

[Tenshoa]

FWC has visited the last two MACNA's in FL. They are cruising craiglist as well. They are also sending letters and visiting your local frag swaps.

Not opening the door to invite problems.......the problem is already here.

The bigger issue is the apparent change in attitude towards hobbyists. After the MACNA in Orlando, they were pretty clear that they really weren't after hobbyists, just the big commercial guys. This past year, they seem to be turning their eyes towards us.

This hasn't changed. Understand that the perceived increase in policing the hobby may have more than meets the eye on any particular incident.