Florida Administrative Code › 68 - FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION › 68 - Departmental › Chapter 68-5 - RULES RELATING TO NON-NATIVE SPECIES › Section 68-5.007 - Possession of Prohibited Non-Native Species

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
No person shall import into the state, sell, possess, or
				  transport any live specimens of the species, or hybrids or eggs thereof, listed
				  in Rule 68-5.006, F.A.C., except by
				  Conditional/Prohibited/Nonnative Species permit and as provided below:
(1) Exhibition of Prohibited Species:
(a) Eligibility:
1. A permit for educational exhibition of
				Prohibited species shall only be issued to public aquaria, zoological parks, or
				public exhibitors.
2. If a person,
				firm, or corporation held a valid captive wildlife class III exhibition or sale
				license on June 30, 2020, and documented an inventory of green iguanas or tegus
				on his or her or its 2018 or 2019 license application or indicated planned
				possession of green iguanas or tegus on his or her or its 2018 or 2019 license
				application, the Commission, upon receipt of a completed permit application,
				shall authorize that person, firm, or corporation to continue to exhibit green
				iguanas or tegu lizards for as long as the person, firm, or corporation
				maintains an active permit.
a. Such status is
				void upon any permit transfer or lapse.
b. The person, firm, or corporation may not
				import green iguanas or tegus into this state.
c. Public exhibitors without a facility that
				is open to the public during normal business hours must show proof of a minimum
				of 12 educational engagements equating to a minimum of 48 hours of public
				exhibit contact time annually. This proof shall be available for inspection at
				all times and must include venue, venue address, date of exhibit, exhibit
				times, number of public participants and advertisement or invitation
				information.
3. Permits
				shall not be issued to entities operating at residential properties, except
				that:
a. The Commission may authorize
				applicants or permittees that qualify for a permit under subparagraph
				68-5.007(1)(a)
				2., F.A.C., to operate at a residential property.
b. If a person, firm or corporation held a
				valid captive wildlife license to exhibit Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons,
				Northern African pythons, Southern African pythons, scrub pythons, amethystine
				pythons, green anacondas, or Nile monitors prior to these species becoming
				listed as Prohibited and documented the species in their inventory on their
				2019 or 2020 captive wildlife license application, the Commission may authorize
				that person, firm or corporation to continue to operate at a residential
				property. Public exhibitors must show proof of a minimum of 12 educational
				engagements equating to a minimum of 48 hours of public exhibit contact time
				annually. This proof shall be available for inspection at all times and must
				include venue, venue address, date of exhibit, exhibit times, number of public
				participants and advertisement or invitation information.
c. Only individual animals possessed by the
				applicant or permittee prior to the species' listing as Prohibited may continue
				to be possessed under this exception. No additional specimens of those species
				may be acquired under this exception.