Commercial Saltwater Fishing Licenses
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Commercial Lobster Dive Permit Required

Changes in the FWC Spiny Lobster Rule, 68B-24, which became effective April 1, 2004, limit commercial divers to harvest crawfish (spiny lobster) by diving from a vessel that has been issued an FWC Crawfish Number and Commercial Dive Permit (CD#).

Divers bringing commercial quantities of crawfish back from federal waters need the CD#

A CD# will not be issued to:

1. divers who do not have a trip ticket for the sale of dive-harvested lobster to a licensed wholesale dealer during either the 2000-01, 2001-02, or 2002-03 lobster seasons;
2. divers who hold trap certificates;
3. divers who do not hold a valid 2004-05 vessel saltwater products license with an RS and Crawfish (C#) endorsement; or
4. divers who did not hold a D on or before December 31, 2004.

All vessels used for commercial harvest of spiny lobster by diving must be licensed with a vessel SPL, RS, C# and CD#.  Dive vessels must be marked with divers-down symbols that are visible from the air and water with the CD# (displayed as the diver’s C# followed by the letter “D”) on the diagonal stripe of each symbol.  Qualified divers may not put their CD# on more than one vessel and no more than one C# may be affixed to any vessel.

Annual Food Permit - Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Any facility manufacturing, processing, packing, holding or preparing food, or selling food at wholesale or retail in Florida must have an annual food permit.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services defines a seafood processor as follows: “A processor of fresh or saltwater finfish, crustaceans, other forms of aquatic animal life (including, but not limited to, alligator, frog, aquatic turtle, jellyfish, sea cucumber and sea urchin and the roe of such animals) other than birds or mammals, and all mollusks, where such animal life is intended for human consumption, primarily for wholesale distribution.”

A seafood market is defined as a retail store engaged primarily in the sale of seafood.  A limited number of other foods may be stocked, but inventory and sales are predominantly fish, crustaceans, or shellfish.

You must obtain a permit from the Florida Dept. of Agriculture to process food for sale to the public.

To obtain information/requirements for a food permit, please call 850-488-3951.  You may also go to www.doacs.state.fl.us.  At the Web site you will need to click on licensing, permits, registrations. Then select "Food Processors" to reach the section containing the laws/rules/requirements.