Spiny Lobster Tag and Endorsement Transfers

Transfer Period: The transfer period opens May 1 and continues until the end of the following February.

Who is eligible: For a standard transfer, there are no special eligibility requirements. In the event of death or disability of the tag holder, the endorsement and the tags may be transferred to an immediate family member.

Immediate family is defined as mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, step-father, step-mother, half-sister. half-brother, son-in-law or daughter-in-law of the endorsement holder.

Trap Tag Reduction: Ten percent of tags purchased must be surrendered to the FWC as part of the trap tag reduction program. Reduction amounts are rounded to the nearest whole number, i.e., 1.4 trap tags round down to 1 and 1.5 rounds up to 2. Trap tags transferred to immediate family members are not subject to a reduction. There is no reduction in the event of death or disability of the tag holder.

Transfer Fees: A $2.00 per tag fee will be calculated only on tags available after the reduction. The fee applies to all standard transfers and transfers between immediate family members. There are no transfer fees in the event of death or disability of the tag holder.

Surcharge Fees: A $5 per tag or 25 percent of the total sale price, whichever is greater, will be charged for A1 and A2 tags. The surcharge will be calculated based on the number of tags available after the reduction. There are no surcharge fees in the event of death or disability of the tag holder.

A1 Tags are trap tags that have never been transferred.
A2 Tags are trap tags that have been transferred within the immediate family.
B Tags are trap tags that have already been transferred outside the original tag holder’s account and are not subject to a surcharge fee.

Seller Requirements: The seller must have current Saltwater Products License (SPL), Restricted Species endorsement (RS), Spiny Lobster endorsement (C) and have paid all outstanding trap certificate fees, license fees and surcharges or any other charges owed to the FWC. Tags must be paid through the fiscal year of the transfer. There must be no processing holds on the seller’s account.

IMPORTANT: Tags must be paid for the current license year (July 1 – June 30) before a transfer will be processed.

If the tags have been ordered by the seller before the transfer is submitted or completed, the tags will be delivered to the seller, and the reduction tags must be provided to the Office of Licensing and Permitting before the transfer will be processed. Contact FWC Regional Offices for options to surrender tags.

Buyer Requirements: Must have SPL, RS and C endorsements paid for through the fiscal year of the transfer, and have paid all outstanding trap certificate fees, license fees and surcharges and any other charges owed to the FWC. There must be no processing holds on the buyer’s account. No individual may possess more than 1.5 percent of the total number of lobster tags.

Buyer may submit applications for the SPL, RS and C endorsements with the transfer application.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: A transfer application (emailed to FWCLicensingHelp@MyFWC.com within 72 hours of being notarized), notarized bill of sale, and reduction tags are required. Proof of relationship (birth certificates and/or marriage licenses), copy of death certificate or proof of disability required for any immediate family transfers or due to death or disability.

IMPORTANT: You are required to indicate on your transfer application how you will return your reduction tags. Reduction tags should be mailed to FWC’s Office of Licensing and Permitting to the address provided on the transfer application, including a copy of your completed transfer application, or they can be dropped off at an FWC Regional Office with a copy of the transfer application.

What Transfers: Only tags transfer, unless the transfer is due to death or disability. In that case, the tags and endorsement will transfer to an immediate family member.

Endorsement Transfer

Who is eligible: The Spiny Lobster endorsement is only transferable to immediate family members upon death or disability of the endorsement holder.

Immediate family is defined as mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, step-father, step-mother, half-sister or half-brother of the endorsement holder.

A complete copy of the applicable rules can be found in Chapter 379 Florida Statutes and Chapters 68B and 68E Florida Administrative Code.

Transfer Forms