Special Activity Licenses (SAL)

Contact the program office

The Special Activity License Program for the collection of marine organisms for scientific, educational and exhibition purposes may be contacted at: 850-487-0554; or e-mail: SAL@MyFWC.com.

Marine educators

Check out the Web site for the Florida Marine Science Educators Association for the FMSEA/FWC 3-year Aquatic Species Collecting Certificate.

Regulated marine species

• Regulated Marine Species

Notice to SAL applicants and SAL holders

Special Activity Licenses issued by the FWC do not authorize any activities in:

• State parks, unless a research/collecting permit has been obtained from the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks.
• National parks
• Federal waters - the federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is any area seaward of 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf
• The following areas of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS):
  • Western Sambo and Tortugas North Ecological Reserves;
  • Cheeca Rocks, Eastern Dry Rocks, Hen and Chickens, Newfound Harbor Key, Rock Key and Sand Key Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs); or
  • Eastern Sambo Research Only Area
• Manatee Limited Entry Areas.  Exemptions to operate in these areas, for research purposes only, must be requested by the SAL applicant or SAL holder. 
• Entangling gear may not be authorized for use in Manatee Entangling Gear Zones.  Exemptions to use entangling gear, for research purposes only, in these areas must be requested by the SAL applicant or SAL holder.

Also see

• February 11, 2008 Workshop Presentation (1.45MB)