1. Florida Bivalve Aquaculture BMPs
Paul W. Zajicek
Biological Administrator
Division of Aquaculture
Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson
Commissioner of Agriculture

2. Division of Aquaculture
Sovereignty submerged lands.
Shellfish Harvesting Area.
Shellfish handling and processing.
Aquaculture Certificate of Registration.
Best Management Practices.
On-farm BMP compliance.

3. Sovereignty Submerged Lands Leases
628 aquaculture leases containing 1,553 acres.
73 shellfish leases containing 1,190 acres.
Aquaculture leases are located in 14 coastal counties.
21 Aquaculture Use Areas in 9 coastal counties.

4. Best Management Practices
Intended to preserve environmental integrity while eliminating cumbersome, duplicative and confusing environmental permitting and licensing.
Minimum standards necessary for protecting and maintaining offsite water quality and wildlife habitat.
Adaptable to a variety of farm sites, operations, and species.
Law and rule-based, not voluntary.

5. BMP development Identified need. Technical Advisory Committee.
Internal agency review/congruency with State Constitution.
Public administrative rule process.

6. Marine Bivalve BMPs Hatchery/Nursery Operations Lease Operations
Site Selection
Facility Operations
Pipe Placement
Lease Operations
Public Health Protection
Genetic Protection
Disease Prevention
Shellfish Grow-out

7. Challenges
Creating grower buy-in and adherence to conservative human health protection rules.
Agency limitations.
Farmer innovation and public resources.

8. Paul Zajicek 850-488-4033 zajicep@doacs.state.fl.us