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Nonnative Conditional Fish

To protect and conserve Florida's natural aquatic resources and help ensure public safety, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prohibits (see Prohibited fishes) or allows conditional possession (see list above) of certain nonnative fishes and aquatic fauna.   Moreover, no person shall allow or permit any freshwater aquatic organism not native to the state to remain in the waters of any pond which is not maintained or operated for the production of such nonnative species.

The FWC uses well-defined criteria to determine where a species should appear on the list. The most current list is available by checking the rules (See 68-5.002 and 68-5.003).  Species that were included on the list as of July 2003 are described on this page.  In general, prohibited nonnative aquatic species, listed in the link box above, may not be imported, sold, possessed or transported in Florida. Very limited exceptions are made by permit for viewing at accredited public aquaria or for research, provided Commission-approved maximum security requirements are met. No exceptions are made for certain prohibited species, such as piranha.  Research permits for prohibited aquatic species are also very stringent.

Conditional nonnative aquatic species, listed in the link box above, may only be possessed under permit from the executive director.  Prior to the issuance of such permit, the facilities where the conditional aquatic species are to be kept and waters where their use is intended may be inspected by Commission personnel to assure that adequate safeguards exist to prevent escape or accidental release into the waters of the state.

Note that much of the information on this page was taken from Fish base and "Living Fishes of the World," by Herald, or from the "Identification Guide to the Conditional and Prohibited Exotic Fishes," which was edited by Lt. Tom Quinn for FWC.