FWC Home : Licenses & Permits : Conditional, Prohibited or Nonnative Species

Conditional, Prohibited or Nonnative Species

Permit applications

• Special permit application for conditional, prohibited or nonnative species
• Biosecurity form

Permit information

Conditional Species

Conditional species (formerly referred to as restricted species) may be imported and possessed for research purposes, commercial use, or public exhibition.  Conditional species may also be imported by holders of Aquaculture Certificates of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, with authorization to possess conditional (restricted) species.

To legally import conditional nonnative species into Florida and possess them for commercial use, research or public exhibition, it is necessary to have a special permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), per rules 68-5.001 and 68-5.002, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.); and Chapter 372.26, Florida Statutes.  A biosecurity form is required with permit applications for conditional species, unless the applicant has a valid Aquaculture Certificate of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), and authorization to possess conditional (restricted) species.

There is no cost for this annual permit, and all special permits for conditional species expire on December 31.  Importers and possessors of conditional species are required to maintain complete and accurate records of acquisition and disposition for each species imported under this permit. As a condition of the permit, disposition of conditional species must be reported to the Exotic Species Coordination Section, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) by December 31, pursuant to 68A-5.004(3), F.A.C.

Individuals or businesses with a valid Aquaculture Certificate of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), and authorization to possess conditional (restricted) species, need a special permit from the FWC to import conditional species; however, they do not need a permit to possess, transfer or sell conditional species. Conditional species may be sold or transferred only to people who hold a special permit to import or possess that particular species, or to people who hold a valid Aquaculture Certificate with conditional species authorization.  All imported conditional species must be maintained in accordance to the provisions provided in 68-5.001 and 68-5.002, F.A.C., or in compliance with DACS Best Management Practices.

Grass carp: triploid grass carp used for aquatic weed control do not fall under the special permits for importation of conditional species. Permits for using triploid grass carp for weed control must be applied for online. Diploid grass carp that are to be imported for commercial sale and export out of the state require a conditional importation permit.

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Prohibited Species

Prohibited species may be imported and possessed for research, following approval of the research plan, including security measures to prevent escape; and by public aquaria, zoological parks, or public exhibitors with current accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association or the American Association of Museums.

To legally import prohibited species into Florida for research or public exhibition, it is necessary to have a special permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), per Rule 68-5.001, 68-5.002, and 68-5.003, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.); and Chapter 372.26, Florida Statutes.  A biosecurity form is required with permit applications for possession of prohibited species for research.

There is no cost for this annual permit, and all special permits for prohibited species expire one year from the date of issuance. Possessors of prohibited species are required to maintain complete and accurate records of acquisition and disposition for each species possessed. The disposition of each species must be reported to the Exotic Species Coordination Section, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) by the permit expiration date as a condition of the permit, pursuant to 68A-5.004(3), F.A.C.

Neither conditional or prohibited species may be kept as personal pets, with the exception of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) that were in possession prior to July 1, 2007.
No exceptions are made for piranha or pirambeba; these species are banned and may not be possessed by anyone at anytime.

All conditional and prohibited species must be maintained in accordance to the provisions provided in 68-5.001, 68-5.002, and 68-5.003, F.A.C.

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Nonnative Species

A permit is required to collect and remove all nonnative species including conditional or prohibited species from FWC managed lands (e.g., Wildlife Management Areas, Wildlife and Environmental Areas).  All FWC managed areas where specimens are to be removed must be listed on the application.  Use of gear types (nets, spears, etc.) must be listed on the permit application.

A Biosecurity Form is required with permit applications that involve the transport or possession of live specimens that are listed as conditional or prohibited species.  A Biosecurity Form is not required for collection of nonnative species not listed as conditional or prohibited, or for collection of voucher (dead) specimens or specimens that are to be killed at the time of capture.

Permits will not be issued for removal of species on lands not managed by the FWC.  Permission to do so must be obtained directly from the landowner.

If nonnative species are to be collected for commercial sale, a commercial fishing license or a Class III Exhibition and Sale License (ESC) is required in addition to a permit to remove the specimens.

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Nonnative Tropical Fish

A permit is required to import tropical fish that are not listed as conditional or prohibited species.  This permit is for noncommercial use and is not required if a valid Resident Fish Dealer's license or Aquaculture Certificate of Registration from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) is held.  Special permits for importing tropical fish are generally for hobbyists and exhibitors.

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Leopard tortoises, African spurred tortoises or Bell's hingeback tortoises

A permit is needed to import these three tortoise species into the state.  A health certificate must be obtained from a licensed veterinarian certifying that each tortoise has no external parasites.

To import tortoises for personal use, attach the health certificate with the permit application and submit to the FWC no less than 10 days before the arrival of any tortoise.  All containers used to transport tortoises must be incinerated within 24 hours of arrival in the state.

Residents importing tortoises for commercial use will submit an application and include the Class III Exhibition and Sale license number.  Notify the FWC by phone no less than 10 days prior to the arrival of any and all shipments.  A message shall be left at the voice mailbox of the Law Enforcement License/Permit Reporting Line (850) 410-0656, providing details of the shipment. The permittee/caller shall provide his/her name and company name, date and time of arrival of the shipment at the permittee's facility, flight number, and airline (if applicable) and number/species of the shipment. If the tortoises are being transported into Florida by vehicle, information should include the above (except for the flight number and airline) and expected arrival time of the shipment at the permittee's facility or other approved destination. All shipments shall be subject to inspection by Commission personnel.  The permitted shall send written notification of receipt of each shipment to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement, Attention: Investigations Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399, within 10 days of receipt (except for non-resident transports for expos, etc. where on-site inspections would be difficult). This information shall include: a bill of lading that shows the numbers/species of specimens, the source of acquisition, and a copy of the certified veterinary health certificate, certifying that all specimens are free from external parasites.  Resident permittees shall maintain a record of the sale/transfer of all specimens for a period of one year following receipt of each shipment. This information shall include: the name(s) and address(es) of recipients, and numbers of tortoise mortalities during the tracking period.  All containers used to transport tortoises shall be incinerated within 24 hours.

Non-resident applicants transporting in tortoises for expos, etc. will submit an application and include a copy of the veterinary health certificate and specifics on the numbers/species to be transported, together with the destination in order to be eligible for a permit.  All containers used to transport tortoises shall be incinerated within 24 hours.

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Captive Wildlife Permits

Permits to import or transport wildlife that are not listed as conditional or prohibited species are available online for the following purposes: traveling to Florida with pets, zoo to zoo transfers, dealer to dealer transfers, and out of state dealer to instate buyer transfers.  All other captive wildlife permits are available online.

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