ENROLLED
       2021 Legislature                           CS for CS for SB 1018
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20211018er
    1  
    2         An act relating to largemouth bass; amending s.
    3         597.004, F.S.; requiring the Department of Agriculture
    4         and Consumer Services, in consultation with specified
    5         entities, to adopt a rule requiring certain facilities
    6         to maintain stock acquisition documentation or records
    7         of genetic testing related to Florida largemouth bass;
    8         authorizing the sale of Florida largemouth bass as
    9         food fish under certain circumstances; providing an
   10         effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraph
   15  (a) of subsection (5) of section 597.004, Florida Statutes, are
   16  amended to read:
   17         597.004 Aquaculture certificate of registration.—
   18         (2) RULES.—
   19         (a) The department, in consultation with the Department of
   20  Environmental Protection, the water management districts,
   21  environmental groups, and representatives from the affected
   22  farming groups, shall adopt rules to:
   23         1. Specify the requirement of best management practices to
   24  be implemented by holders of aquaculture certificates of
   25  registration.
   26         2. Establish procedures for holders of aquaculture
   27  certificates of registration to submit the notice of intent to
   28  comply with best management practices.
   29         3. Establish schedules for implementation of best
   30  management practices, and of interim measures that can be taken
   31  prior to adoption of best management practices. Interim measures
   32  may include the continuation of regulatory requirements in
   33  effect on June 30, 1998.
   34         4. Establish a system to assure the implementation of best
   35  management practices, including recordkeeping requirements.
   36         5. Require any facility that cultures Micropterus salmoides
   37  floridanus to maintain stock acquisition documentation or
   38  records of genetic testing.
   39         (5) SALE OF AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS.—
   40         (a) Aquaculture products, except shellfish, snook, and any
   41  fish of the genus Micropterus, excluding Micropterus salmoides
   42  floridanus, and prohibited and restricted freshwater and marine
   43  species identified by rules of the Fish and Wildlife
   44  Conservation Commission, may be sold by an aquaculture producer
   45  certified pursuant to this section or by a dealer licensed
   46  pursuant to part VII of chapter 379 without restriction so long
   47  as the product origin can be identified.
   48         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.