Section 68B-8.006 - Scientific Research Special Activity License(1) PURPOSE. The purpose of a Scientific Research SAL is to accommodate the need for the scientific community to conduct research, monitoring, and hard bottom restoration or mitigation activities that enhance the greater body of knowledge in support of fisheries management, resource conservation and enhancement, and public health. If conducting research, the proposed activity must ensure that study results will be presented in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication, or at a minimum, offer the opportunity to build systematically on findings. If conducting monitoring, the proposed activity must ensure that collected data will be analyzed to detect physical or biological changes over time in marine organisms, their populations, or communities. If conducting restoration or mitigation, the proposed activity must ensure that species such as oysters, corals, sponges, sea fans, sea whips, and other hard bottom marine organisms are repaired in the event that they are damaged, and the effectiveness of the restoration or mitigation activity is evaluated by subsequent monitoring.(2) ELIGIBILITY. A Scientific Research SAL may be issued only to the following: (a) A principal investigator of a proposed or ongoing scientific research project who is on the faculty or is a student of a college, community college, university, or secondary school.(b) A principal investigator of a proposed or ongoing scientific research project who is affiliated with a marine research institute, laboratory, corporation, or organization.(c) A member of the scientific or technical staff of a marine research institute, laboratory, corporation, or organization with demonstrated experience conducting successful hard bottom restoration or mitigation activities.(d) A member of the scientific or technical staff of a city, county, state or federal agency.(e) A member of the scientific or technical staff of a certified aquaculture facility.(3) FEES AND APPLICATION. (a) The processing fee for a Scientific Research SAL is $25.00. A processing fee is non-refundable.(b) An applicant for a Scientific Research SAL must complete and submit a Scientific Research SAL application form provided by the Commission (Form DMF-SRSAL (9/09)).(4) EVALUATION CRITERIA. In addition to the evaluation criteria set forth in subsection 68B-8.004(2), F.A.C., an application for a Scientific Research SAL will be evaluated based on the following criteria as applicable to the request: (a) Project specifications and methodologies.(b) Monitoring strategies.(c) Documented experience conducting successful hard bottom restoration or mitigation activities.(5) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A SAL holder must submit the following: (a) An activity report detailing all SAL-related harvest or sampling activities that resulted in the permanent retention of marine organisms. The activity report is a report other than any publications or technical, monitoring, or final reports. The activity report must include common and scientific names of the marine organisms harvested (both targeted and incidental), numbers and sizes harvested, locations of harvest by county, and disposition of all marine organisms harvested. The activity report for a Scientific Research SAL involving prohibited species must also include the specific harvesting gear used. If mortality of a prohibited species occurred during harvest or subsequent possession, the report must indicate the cause of death if known. If SAL-related activities did not result in the permanent retention or mortality of any marine organism, the SAL holder must submit a statement to that effect.(b) A copy of any publications, technical, monitoring, or final reports that were generated as a result of work conducted pursuant to the SAL. These reports must include the notation that research was conducted pursuant to the specific Commission Special Activity License.(c) A SAL holder who is conducting biomedical research activities involving the collection of horseshoe crabs to remove blood and return the animal to the area of collection alive, must file his or her annual report pursuant to sub-subparagraph 68B-46.002(3)(b) 3.e., F.A.C.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 68B-8.006
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const.
New 7-1-04, Amended 11-19-09.New 7-1-04, Amended 11-19-09.