Collecting plants in florida?

[CELACANTHr]

Hey all!

In a few days we are going down to florida for a vacation. While I am down there I hope to collect some critters (zoa's, mantis shrimp, snails). I found this website
http://myfwc.com/marine/recreational/recharvestmls.htm
and have read all through it and understand everything about the permits, collection methods, bag limits, etc.
The other day someone told me that you could NOT collect seagrasses, but I haven't found any mention of seagrasses on that webpage, only info about macro's.
So I wanted to kno what the law was for collecting seagrasses in florida. Does it follow the same 1 gallon limit as the macro does?

thank you so much
CELA

[CELACANTHr]

anyone?

[stevemc]

The way the law reads, you can collect macro algaes which would include grasses. Where are you going to be in Florida?

[CELACANTHr]

Marathon, on long key (I think...) I had read a site somewhere...can't find it now...that said that someone collected at a beach in Marathon, and that it was legal to do so there, but the webpage was written back in 1997.

[stevemc]

I will be in Marathon next Sunday for a week. How long will you be there? I could show you around and where to collect some different ones. Long Key is not on Marathon, they are about 10 miles apart. It is legal there, and there are many areas that are good. I assume you will be snorkleing, as most if not all are in water that is a little deep. Steve.

[CELACANTHr]

Thank you SOO much steve!
We snorkel a TON when we go down there, we found this camping place where you can camp on the beach basically. We wake up and hop in the water, and don't come out till lunch, and then it is right back in the water. It is awesome snorkeling, especially for marine plant afficianados.
Any animals that are not listed on that link-in my first post-, should they be considered legal to collect, and not subject to the "20 species bag limit"?
Also, they say "Aggregate bag limit of 20 species (in any combination), of the species included in the Marine Life rule as listed below.". I am not sure if that means I am only allowed to collect 20 species, or if it means I am only allowed to collect 20 individual organisms?
Thanks again!

[stevemc]

The 20 species is animal, or inverts, per person per day, with a 2 day bag limit max, per person. That has a FL fishing lic. Plants is 1 gallon per day. Would that be Long Key State Park or Knights Key Park? The 20 per day includes small stuff like blue leg hermits and other little things that you could over look. Plants not included in that. I sent a PM too, Steve --Good Luck.

[Treeman]

I would check on the turtle grass. I have heard it is off limits. I know that they have been having bad die offs and are replanting it in areas. So I would doubt that they would let you collect it.

[jmanrow]

Originally posted by stevemc
The way the law reads, you can collect macro algaes which would include grasses. Where are you going to be in Florida?

How does the law read in the regulation book, by the way?
I'm sure the Florida Dept. of Fish and Wildlife knows the difference between a macro algae and a seagrass. I think you better check on this one before you collect.

[CELACANTHr]

I haven't really seen anything out here besides macro's and turtle grass. I am not interested in the turtle grass because I have read that it is difficult to keep. I think I will just be collecting some macros, and inverts and such.

[jmanrow]

The State of Florida requires a Permit for Aquatic Plant Importation,
Transportation, Non-Nursery Cultivation, Possession and Collection or a formal
Environmental Resource Permit (ERP)from the Department of Environmental
Protection for removal and transportation of rooted seagrasses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I looked into this a bit more and received a response from Florida Dept. Environmental Protection. Here is an exerpt:
"No ERP/WRP is required for collection of drift material (for example, plants
that are pulled loose during sporting events or following strong storms) or
the cutting of seagrasses to feed captured manatees. However, if the
seagrasses are to be used for planting for restoration, a WRP/ERP permit is
required for the planting.

The cutting of seagrasses for manatee food would be authorized by a Special
Activity License (SAL) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) and if the activity is on SSL, this may require
authorization through a Letter of Consent."

I hope this helps.

[CELACANTHr]

So no seagrass then? Oh well! Samala, or Billsreef will be getting an order soon then LOL
how do they feel about sargassum, since it isn't a macro-algae? I suppose they wouldn't mind, right?

[Samala]

You can collect drifted fragments but you must have a permit from DEP. I'm sorry I saw this so late Cela. I know the laws well now after applying for a nursery cert, an aquaculture cert, and a new yearly collection permit. So many certs!

Sargassum is a macroalgae. I am not sure if it falls under any other distinctions. Within Texas (so I hear) there are harvest limits on this species. If you find floating matts be sure to go and inspect them for life! Seahorses, wild H. erectus, are a typical find.

>Sarah

[CELACANTHr]

Ooh well, I guess I will have to get some from you or somewhere else :-D
The sargassum is AWESOME, but I thought that it was actually a protist, and that macro-algae's were plants. Ahhhh common names are confusing!The sargassum has these neat shrimp, and crabs, sometimes tiny fish, but my favorite is the Histrio histrio, the sargassum angler! I feel compelled to make a Histrio histrio tank now.
Well, I found my main inhabitant for the 20 gallon, a Neogonodactylus oerstedii, very pretty and fun to watch!
Sarah-You still have that angelfish? have you thought about pipefish in that tank? Just a thought, lol