Qualifying for Restricted Species Endorsement

A Restricted Species Endorsement authorizes the holder of a Saltwater Products License to commercially harvest marine species designated as "restricted species" in Chapter 68B, F.A.C. and to sell these species to a licensed wholesale dealers. The Restricted Species endorsement is only available to Commercial Harvesters who are at least 16 years old, hold a Saltwater Products License and can submit qualifying documentation to support one of the acceptable qualification methods or exemptions outlined below.

Restricted Species List: Alpha or Numeric

("R" indicates Restricted Species,"M" indicates Marine Life Species.)

Acceptable Proof of Income for Applicants

Income attribution must apply to any 12 consecutive months of the previous 36 months.

Trip Tickets/Landings- A trip ticket is a form provided by the Commission on which wholesale dealers and others are required to report saltwater fish, bait or other marine life species purchased or produced for the first time (landings) pursuant to s. 379.362(6), F.S., and chapter 68E-5, F.A.C. Trip tickets should be embossed and must show a dollar value, date of harvest and the applicant's SPL number. Harvesters are encouraged to obtain and retain copies of their trip tickets. Trip tickets showing sales of restricted species without a restricted species endorsement or landings reported under a Retail Dealers License are not acceptable and cannot be used for the purpose of qualifying for the RS.

Crew Share Statement– A notarized Crew Share Statement signed by the license holder for the vessel under which the landings have been reported verifying the applicant's income earned from the lawful sale of saltwater products must be provided. The dates of harvest (month and year) and the amount earned must be specified on the Crew Share Statement.

Crew Share Statement

Out-of-State Landings- Harvesters who have landings from locations other than Florida must submit copies of sales records documenting the sale of saltwater products and the applicable out-of-state license. Sales documentation must include the name and address of the company to which the qualifying sales were made. Trip ticket must contain similar information that is on Florida trip tickets e.g. license numbers, dates, type of species, weights, values, etc.

Request for Release of Personal Commercial Landings Data (Individual Fisher)

Tax Returns- A copy of the applicable federal income tax return (including Form 1099 attachments) verifying income earned from the sale of saltwater products may be submitted to prove the percentage of income attributable to the sale of saltwater products. If a joint return is submitted, the applicant must provide all documentation necessary to separate the spouse's income. Trip tickets or out-of-state sales records must accompany your tax return. The dates of harvest on the trip tickets or out-of-state sales records used to qualify must fall within the same 12-month period as covered by the tax return.

Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Statement-A notarized statement attesting to the qualifying source and amount of income. Sales must be reported under a valid Saltwater Products license to a licensed Wholesale Dealer. The Wholesale Dealer name and license number must be specified, as well as, the sale per dealer and the dates of the sales.

CPA Statement Form

Qualification Methods

Applicants must be able to provide the supporting documents listed for the qualification method they choose. The Restricted Species endorsement will be valid for three full license years from the last date of the landings provided.

Person or Firm-Applicant must provide acceptable proof of $5,000 in income from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during any 12 consecutive month period in the last 36 months (Active duty may be excluded when calculating the previous 3 years and will not be counted for purposes of determining qualifying time) and documented with:

Reported trip tickets
Crewshare statement
Out of state landings

25 percent of annual income-25% of total income must have come from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed wholesale dealer. Sales must have had been in the same year as the tax return.

Copies of complete tax returns and
Trip tickets and/or crewshare statement
CPA statement

Charter Boat Operator-must provide acceptable proof that 50 percent of his annual income is derived from charter fishing and that he had $2,500 in sales to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during the same calendar year and documented with:

Copies of complete tax returns and
Trip tickets or crewshare statement

For Profit Corporation- Applicant must provide acceptable proof of $5,000 in income from the sale of saltwater products to a licensed Florida Wholesale Saltwater Products Dealer during any 12 consecutive period months in the last 36 months and documented with:

Reported trip tickets
Crewshare statement
Out of state landings

Aquaculture producers (Clam leases) are still required to report trip tickets if they wish to use those sales to qualify for the Restricted Species endorsement.

Exemptions to Income Requirements

Persons that qualify for the exemptions are not required to show the $5000 income requirement to be issued an RS Endorsement at the time of application. However, depending on exemption type you may have to re-qualify for the RS by using the above qualification methods. If…

You are a person age 62 or older who has qualified for a Restricted Species endorsement for 3 out of the last 5 years. You will be issued a permanent Restricted Species endorsement.

You are a person age 62 or older and provide acceptable proof of $2,500 in sales of saltwater products to a licensed Wholesale Dealer during any 12 consecutive months in the last 36 months.*

You are a person age 70 or older and held an SPL 3 out of the last 5 license years. You will be granted permanent exemption to the income requirements listed herein.*

You are a disabled resident who can provide acceptable proof of disability from the Railroad Retirement Board, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Armed Forces, Social Security Administration or a licensed physician and have held the SPL for 3 of the last 5 years prior to the date of disability.*

Physician's Statement

You are an immediate family member of a harvester who held the RS and has died or become disabled, you may qualify for one full license year**. Application must be submitted within three years from the date of death or disablement. Must provide a copy of the birth certificate and proof of death or disablement.

You are purchasing a commercial fishing vessel from a seller who holds an active SPL and RS based on verified income earned from the sale of saltwater products to a license wholesale dealer, or an RS based upon a qualifying method other than the vessel purchase exemption, you will qualify for the Restricted Species endorsement for one full license year from the date of purchase of the vessel. The Restricted Species endorsement will only be attached to the vessel purchased until the vessel holder qualifies for a restricted species endorsement based on another qualifying method. The endorsement may be moved to another licensed vessel only if the vessel purchased becomes inoperable.

Vessel and Seller Requirements:

The qualifying vessel shall be no less than 16 feet in length.
The buyer must be the registered owner at the time of application.
The vessel must have been currently registered as a commercial vessel at the time of sale and by the buyer at the time of application.

Please submit the following supporting documents with your application:**

A copy of the signed vessel title or notarized coast guard bill of sale showing the purchase price and
A copy of vessel registration or other current documentation showing use as Commercial/fishery vessel at the time of sale and after the transfer of title.

You are a disabled resident military veteran who has been certified to be at least 10 percent service related disabled by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor or by any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and who submits a copy of their discharge/disability documentation.**

Re-qualifying sales must be valid sales to a licensed wholesale dealer in any 12 consecutive months in the previous 36 month period. Qualifying disabled resident veterans will only be required to document $2,500 in qualifying landings or crew shares. **

You are a resident veteran who has been honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces, the Reserves, the Florida National Guard or the Coast Guard who submits a copy of their discharge documentation within 48 months of discharge. This exemption is allowed one time per military enlistment. **

Residency (resident includes resident alien)

Resident (includes resident alien)- A person who has continuously resided in the state of Florida for a period of one year preceding the application for license.

Resident Alien– A person who has continuously resided in the state of Florida for at least 1 year and can provide documentation of permanent residency status from the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Non-Resident Alien– A person who has not resided in the state of Florida for at least 1 year and can provide documentation of permanent residency status from the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

*Applies only to an SPL issued to an individual.

**Requires Requalification using one of the acceptable qualification methods and only applies to an SPL issued to an individual.