[Under the Amazon]

Here is a link to Federal fish and wildlife permits. On this site there are links to state office's.

http://www.fws.gov/permits/overview/overview.shtml

Kory

[Brooklamprey]

MEMORANDUM

TO:
Florida Freshwater Fish Dealers, Importers, and Interested Persons

FROM:
Colonel Julie Jones
Director, Division of Law Enforcement

SUBJECT: Importation of Freshwater Fish
To legally import freshwater fish into the State of Florida, it is necessary to have a permit from
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), per Chapter 372.26, Florida
Statutes (F.S.), and Rule 68A-23.008, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).

Cost of Permit:
There is no charge for this permit, and it can be obtained by submitting an application for a
Freshwater Fish Dealers License or an Aquaculture Certificate. Pursuant to Chapter 597.004,
F.S., the Aquaculture Certificate may serve in lieu of the Freshwater Fish Dealers License. The
cost of a Residential Freshwater Fish Dealers License is $40 per year. The cost of a Non-
Resident Freshwater Fish Dealers license is $100 per year. The cost of a Non-Resident
Wholesale Fish Dealers License is $500 per year. Applications for these licenses shall be
submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, P.O. Box 6150,
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6150. The cost of an Aquaculture Certificate is $50 per year.
Applications can be obtained by request in writing from the Florida Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, 1203 Governors Square Boulevard,
Tallahassee, Florida 32301, or from their web site at www.doacs.state.fl.us. Applications should
be mailed to the address listed on the application.

Duration of Permit:
The expiration date of the importation permit shall coincide with the expiration date on the
Freshwater Fish Dealers License or Aquaculture Certificate. Licenses and permits shall be valid
for one year from the date of issuance.

Failure to Comply:
Shipment(s) of fish coming into the State of Florida, consigned to persons or businesses, who do
not hold a current permit, will be returned to the country or state of origin and/or seized as
evidence for legal proceedings.

Restricted and Prohibited Fishes:
The importation permit, as discussed above, specifically does not authorize the importation or
possession of certain aquatic species designated as Restricted or Prohibited by the FWC (Rule
68A-23.008, F.A.C.). These species are considered to be dangerous to the ecology and/or the
health and welfare of the people of Florida. At the present time, the list of restricted and
prohibited aquatic species includes:
® = Restricted; (P) = Prohibited; (P/R) = Prohibited and Restricted
Page 2
Memorandum
Importation of Freshwater Fish
Page 2
(P)
African Electric Catfish (family Malapteruridae, all species)
(P)
African Tigerfish (subfamily Hydrocyninae, all species)
(P)
Airbreathing Catfish (family Clariidae, all species except Clarias batrachus)
(P)
Airsac Catfish (family Heteropnestidae, all species)
(P)
Australian Crayfish (genus Cherax, all species) except tank culture systems of Cherax
quadricarinatus
®
Australian Red Claw Crayfish (Chorax quadricarinatus; tank culture systems only)
® Bighead Carp (Aristichthys nobilis)
®
Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) except north and west of the Suwannee River
®
Bony Tongue Fish (Osteoglossidae, all species) except Silver arowana (Osteoglossum
bicirrhosum)
(P)
Candiru Catfish (family Trichomycteridae, all species)
®
Dorados (genus Salminus, all species)
(P)
Freshwater Electric Eels (family Elecrophoridae, all species)
®
Freshwater Stingrays (family Electrophoridae, all species)
®
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
(P)
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanallus)
(P)
Lampreys (family Petromyzonidae, all species)
®
Nile Perches (genus Lates, all species)
(P)
Piranhas and Pirambebas (subfamily Serrasalminae, all species including Wimple’s
Piranhas)
®
Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) May be possessed west of the Apalachicola
River or imported for direct sale to food wholesalers and food retailers for resale to
consumers without permit. Pond aquaculture prohibited.
®
Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
®
Snail or Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus)
(P)
Snakeheads (family Channidae, all species)
(P/R) Tilapias (Tilapia, Sarotherodon, and Oreochromis genera all species), except that
Tilapia.aurea, bornorum, mossambica, nilotica, may be possessed, cultured, and
transported without permit in the North Central Region ( Citrus and Hernando Counties
only), Northeast Region (Excluding Nassau and Duval Counties), South and Southwest
Regions.
(P)
Tranhiras or Tigerfish (family Erythrinidae, all species)
®
Walking Catfish (Clarius batrachus)
®
White River Crayfish (Procambarus zonangulas) May be possessed west of the
Apalachicola River or imported for direct sale to food wholesalers and food retailers for
resale to consumer without permit. Pond aquaculture prohibited.
(P)
Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
(P)
Mitten Crabs (genus Eriocheir)
Page 3
Memorandum
Importation of Freshwater Fish
Page 3
Special Permits:
In order to import restricted and/or prohibited aquatic species, one must first obtain a Special
Permit which allows the importation of those designated species. No Special Permits are issued
for Piranha; these fish are banned in the State of Florida, and may not be possessed by anyone at
any time.
Special Permits are issued for the following purposes only:
(1)
Scientific study (Restricted and Prohibited aquatic species)
(2)
Exhibition purposes (Restricted species; limited exception for Prohibited species)
(3)
Trans-shipment to another state or country where the species may be legally
possessed ( restricted aquatic species only)

Special Permits for restricted and/or prohibited aquatic species are not issued to hobbyists.
In addition to the State of Florida’s Special Permit, Federal Permits are required for fish of the
Claridae (Walking Catfish) family.

Permits to Import Live Game Fish:
To import live game fish for stocking or propagation purposes, it is necessary to first obtain a
permit from FWC. A copy of this permit must accompany the shipment to Florida. Such a
permit is free of charge and may be obtained by submitting an application for the Resident
Freshwater Fish Dealers License ($40).

Freshwater game fish are defined as:
The following members of the Genus Micropterus:
1.
Largemouth bass (Micrepterus salimodes)
2.
Redeyed (Shoal) bass (Micropterus coosae)
3.
Suwannee bass (Micropterus notius)
4.
Spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
The following members of the Genus Pmoxis:
1.
Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatur)
2.
White crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
The following fish commonly called panfish:
1.
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
2.
Redear (Lepomis microlophus)
3.
Redbreast (Lepomis auritus)
4.
Flier (Centrarchus macropterus)
5.
Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
6.
Longear (Lepomis megalotis)
7.
Mud sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis)
8.
Shadow bass (Emblolites ariommus)
9.
Spotted sunfish (Lepomis Punctatus)
Page 4
Memorandum
Importation of Freshwater Fish
Page 4
Freshwater white bass (Morone chrysops)
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
White bass-striped bass hybrid and its reciprocal known locally as sunshine bass
All members of the Genus Cichla, commonly known as peacock bass including the
butterfly peacock (Cichla ocellaris) and speckled peacock (Cichla temensis).
Accountability of Importer:
FWC requires that all aquatic species imported under a Special Permit be accounted for.

Method of Reporting:
Each shipment of aquatic species requires that all aquatic species imported under a Special
Permit be accurately recorded by the permittee. Such records shall include the name and address
of the supplier, species, and numbers of aquatic species imported.
Report on Disposition of Special Permit Aquatic Species:
The granting of a Special Permit obligates the permittee to keep FWC informed of the final
disposition of the Special Permit aquatic species. Records shall be maintained by the permittee
and made available to FWC personnel upon request.
Failure to maintain records and report disposition upon request will constitute grounds for
revocation and denial of renewal of Special Permits.
Additional Information:
Licenses and permits are not transferable. Any false statement in an application for a license or
alternation of a license shall be prosecuted as provided by Chapter 372, F.S. Any resident dealer
permitted to deal in Restricted and/or Prohibited aquatic species, who sells such aquatic species
locally, should request to see the buyer’s Special Permit. Restricted and prohibited aquatic
species may only be imported, possessed, and sold under Special Permit.
If you have any questions about these regulations or how they might affect your operation, please
contact our Investigations Section at (850) 488-6253.
jj/jdw/pb
Revised 1/3/06

HTML copy of PDF:
myfwc.com/permits/FWFish_import.pdf

Please again note the line that is in bold above:

Special Permits for restricted and/or prohibited aquatic species are not issued to hobbyists.

[benblach]

thaks that was very helpful, but i still have a couple more questions. what is the difference between a prohibited and a restricted fish? once i get the liscence how am i to get the fish anyway, most places dont ship fish to places where they are prohibited or restricted. i could have my friend buy them for me and then ship them to me, maybe. i should find that out before i get a liscence.

[benblach]

also, it said that hobbist cant get liscences, is there anyway i can get around this?

[Brooklamprey]

also, it said that hobbist cant get liscences, is there anyway i can get around this?

As I said in the start of this ...No

In Florida getting a permit to keep restricted or prohibited fish is next to impossible as a hobbyist. why others keep getting your hopes up I'm not sure... but there is not really anyway you will get these permits.

All this that has been mentioned above by others does not apply to just keeping the fish. It has to do with shipping them through the state..It has nothing to do with hobbyist possession.

Try if you wish.... but do not be totally upset when you get shot down on requesting a possession permit.
This BTW is pretty much a guaranteed response and you will be shot down in your request.