Is selling Coral aginst the Law?
- Thread starter Reef 101
- Start date
coralnut99
New member
You should email the folks at one of the local clubs in your neck of the woods. Yes there have been issues with your wildlife folks down there. There is a fairly long thread on the issue that unfortunately I can't find at the moment.
returnofsid
New member
You may want to read up on Florida fish and game regulations. More than a few hobbyists, in Florida, have been raided and fined, in the last couple of years. One was fined for rehoming a fish that had out grown her tank!
coralnut99
New member
Here's the thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1849850
A long read for sure, but it does answer your question and then some.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1849850
A long read for sure, but it does answer your question and then some.
coralnut99
New member
I'm sure there are variations on the Florida scenario out there already.
jdyer88
New member
this is probably the wrong place for this thread, but it is a good one and i hope it gets moved instead of closed. I guarantee California is next state to enact a similar law. If there is something our govt can regulate here, they do. I envy those in nevada, arizona, texas, montana, alaska, idaho, wyoming..............................
Jarred1
Active member
If you have the receipt from where you bought it and you are trying to sell locally you should be fine. The law was made to prohibit the selling of wild coral and was written in such away that it could be applied to hobbyist. The FWC is currently working on rewriting the laws. Usually the FWC won't bother with hobbyist and if they do bother you they will just give you a warning first. This is just what was told to me by my club president so take what I said and decide for yourself.
cside
New member
If what happened in this thread is illegal, why is it legal to buy/sell on RC?
coralnut99
New member
Who said it is? The officer that tracked down the initial transaction tracked it down in the state of Fla. If one decides to sift through Reefcentral, track it down, it could very well go the exact same route if it all takes place in Fla.
Florida's rule is on the books mainly becuase corals grows there. We're very very very limited in what corals can even grow here in California so such regulation really isn't something CA F&G would push. If something is deemed invasive, regulation is put in place.. Caulerpa for example.
cside
New member
If i am in florida, can I still sell on RC? That is my question,
It is legal without permits in other states.
It's up to you to know and follow your local laws in regards to selling
jeff@zina.com
New member
Yep. And since the Fort Myers group has pioneered the working with both Dept of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife you're in the perfect area. SWFMAS.COM, next meeting is a house tour in two weeks. ASK Jeff Dhyvetter about all the rules. Although with Jeff's post record, he'll answer this next...
Jeff (The other Jeff)
Gamepro_inc
New member
I just saw this on Orlando Reef site.
Selling Corals & Fish - Legally
I recently spoke with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DOACS) in Tallahassee about licenses for legally farming and selling corals in Florida. Our forums are apparently being watched by stores and individuals, and with MACNA coming up soon this is becoming a more critical issue for people and businesses who are selling and trading corals and fish.
If you apply for the DOACS Aquaculture Certificate, that agency is the one who will oversee your activities as an Agriculture Farmer, whether an individual or a business. This is the key - you are FARMING corals.
Once you have that Agriculture License to FARM corals, you can legally sell, ship and deliver your corals as either a retailer or wholesaler - whether on the forums, websites, to other individuals, stores, ship in state and out of state. Basically that one license is all that is needed, and the cost is only $100/year. The year runs July 1 - June 30. It does require an inspection of your facilities which should take approximately 30 min. Basically they look to make sure you're not taking live rock from the ocean and check out how you dispose of your waste water. They are very resonable people to deal with. They have 2 agents in the Central Florida area assigned to work with us. After the inspection they will issue a FDA card and number, the number to be written on all purchases and shipments.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWCC) is a totally separate agency. These are the guys that can write tickets, confiscate live rock, check out your lobster catch, snails, etc. They have a reputation of picking out the little guy and making an example of him. We know of someone here in the club who was singled out, and the inspector told me stories of the FWCC going after someone who was simply selling a yellow tang on Craig's List.
The Saltwater Fishing License is required for collecting in Florida and is issued by the FWCC.
The Saltwater Products License is also an FWCC License. This license was not really designed for coral farming, however this agency is apparently using it for that purpose. There are different licenses for retail ($25/yr) and wholesale dealers ($$$ I hear). I've heard additional licenses may be needed for shipping, but don't really know all the facts here. Basically, if you have this type of license you are telling the FWWC you want them to regulate you, not the DOACS.
The DOACS has warned us that, as Coral Farmers, we should try to NOT have the Saltwater Products License for coral farming as it is much more restricive, and additional licenses may also be required. Plus they can still issue fines.
The point here is that if for some reason you are contacted by the FWCC they may tell you that you have to have the Saltwater Products License to sell corals. And they may try to fine you if you do not have one. And/or require you to buy several different licenses to do whatever you are doing.
If you already have the Florida Agriculture License which states that you are a FARMER, you are choosing to be regulated by the DOACS. The DOACS trumps anything the FWCC may come up with. The DOACS are very reasonable people and have a good understanding of agriculture and coral farming. I've already applied for the Agriculture Certification.
Phone Number:
850-488-4033
Their website is:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/aqua/aquacert.html
Here's their form:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/forms/15106.pdf
Selling Corals & Fish - Legally
I recently spoke with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DOACS) in Tallahassee about licenses for legally farming and selling corals in Florida. Our forums are apparently being watched by stores and individuals, and with MACNA coming up soon this is becoming a more critical issue for people and businesses who are selling and trading corals and fish.
If you apply for the DOACS Aquaculture Certificate, that agency is the one who will oversee your activities as an Agriculture Farmer, whether an individual or a business. This is the key - you are FARMING corals.
Once you have that Agriculture License to FARM corals, you can legally sell, ship and deliver your corals as either a retailer or wholesaler - whether on the forums, websites, to other individuals, stores, ship in state and out of state. Basically that one license is all that is needed, and the cost is only $100/year. The year runs July 1 - June 30. It does require an inspection of your facilities which should take approximately 30 min. Basically they look to make sure you're not taking live rock from the ocean and check out how you dispose of your waste water. They are very resonable people to deal with. They have 2 agents in the Central Florida area assigned to work with us. After the inspection they will issue a FDA card and number, the number to be written on all purchases and shipments.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWCC) is a totally separate agency. These are the guys that can write tickets, confiscate live rock, check out your lobster catch, snails, etc. They have a reputation of picking out the little guy and making an example of him. We know of someone here in the club who was singled out, and the inspector told me stories of the FWCC going after someone who was simply selling a yellow tang on Craig's List.
The Saltwater Fishing License is required for collecting in Florida and is issued by the FWCC.
The Saltwater Products License is also an FWCC License. This license was not really designed for coral farming, however this agency is apparently using it for that purpose. There are different licenses for retail ($25/yr) and wholesale dealers ($$$ I hear). I've heard additional licenses may be needed for shipping, but don't really know all the facts here. Basically, if you have this type of license you are telling the FWWC you want them to regulate you, not the DOACS.
The DOACS has warned us that, as Coral Farmers, we should try to NOT have the Saltwater Products License for coral farming as it is much more restricive, and additional licenses may also be required. Plus they can still issue fines.
The point here is that if for some reason you are contacted by the FWCC they may tell you that you have to have the Saltwater Products License to sell corals. And they may try to fine you if you do not have one. And/or require you to buy several different licenses to do whatever you are doing.
If you already have the Florida Agriculture License which states that you are a FARMER, you are choosing to be regulated by the DOACS. The DOACS trumps anything the FWCC may come up with. The DOACS are very reasonable people and have a good understanding of agriculture and coral farming. I've already applied for the Agriculture Certification.
Phone Number:
850-488-4033
Their website is:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/aqua/aquacert.html
Here's their form:
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/forms/15106.pdf
coralnut99
New member
Good lord. There was a time I was jealous of folks in Fla.
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