Aquaculture Certificate of Registration

Floridians who are raising aquatic species for commercial sale must acquire an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) on a yearly basis.

The certificate authorizes production and sale of aquaculture products. It identifies your aquaculture products as cultured products and identifies you as an aquaculturist. It entitles you to the same benefits bestowed on other agricultural producers, including tax benefits, and reduces the number of permits you’ll need from other agencies.

Application and Fees

All applicants must agree to comply with Aquaculture Best Management Practices [ 715 kB ] .

Certificates expire on June 30 of each year. The fee to apply for or renew a certificate is $100.

Required Training

All Aquaculture Certificate of Registration applicants who list shellfish as a product on their application must complete Shellfish Harvester Education Training on a yearly basis.

Shellfish Harvester Education provides training in sanitary shellfish harvesting, transportation and handling. It is designed to help shellfish handlers minimize the growth of Vibrio bacteria and to reduce the risk of associated illnesses.

You may complete your training online or you may complete it in person at any of the following FDACS offices:

• Apalachicola Shellfish Center: (850) 653-8317
• Melbourne Office: (321) 984-4890
• Port Charlotte Office: (941) 613-0954
• Cedar Key Office: (352) 543-1084
• Tallahassee Office: (850) 617-7600

How to Apply for an Aquaculture Certificate of Registration

• Fill out an application. You can download an application[ ] or request one by contacting FDACS at (850) 617-7600 or  Serina.Rocco@FDACS.gov.
• If you list shellfish as a product on your application, you must complete the Shellfish Harvester Education Training. At the end of the course, a certificate of completion will be issued as proof of training.
• Mail the completed application, along with your proof of training (if applicable) and a check or money order for $100, to: FDACS, P.O. Box 6710, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6710

• For new certificates, applicants must also submit a Facility Plan, which includes the following:
  • A construction plan and associated timeline,
  • Species production plan and associated timeline, and
  • A description detailing the implementation of appropriate Aquaculture Best Management Practices. 

See our Aquaculture Certificate of Registration Fact Sheet [ 909 kB ] for details.

Once your application has been received, FDACS staff will contact you to schedule an initial site visit and go over your facility plan and applicable Best Management Practices.

How Long It Takes to Receive Your Certificate

An Aquaculture Certificate of Registration can usually be issued three to four weeks after a complete application has been received, an initial site visit is completed, and all required plans and documents have been received and approved.   

Frequently Asked Questions