Workshops

FMSEA/FWC Aquatic Species Collection Workshop

Sponsored by the Florida Marine Science Educators Association and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

FMSEA and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have developed and implemented an aquatic species collection workshop for educators. Virtual and in-person workshops held throughout the year at various locations.

REGISTER FOR A WORKSHOP

The workshop is a professional development opportunity available to certified Florida teachers and/or eligible employees and volunteers of educational centers (see below).

For specific questions about a particular workshop, contact the facilitator listed in the appointment.
For general questions about ASCW, contact: collections @ fmsea.org
Do NOT register other people under your name ("customer") - each participant must be individually registered under their own name, sign-in, and home address (each individual must be the customer & participant).

Curriculum has been established to achieve the primary workshop objective of best practices and includes, but is not limited to:

Introduction to the FMSEA BoD
Benefits of collecting organisms for educational purposes
Acceptable and responsible collecting, transporting and holding practices
Appropriate gear deployment and use
Discusses various field activities using best practices and methods to minimize environmental impacts
Alternatives to collecting live specimens
Release policies, restrictions and regulations
Field trip information needed as well as safety and precautions in the field
Access to resources and related activities
Complimentary FMSEA membership for one year

Upon successful completion of the workshop, the certificate will be emailed to you by Florida FWCC:

(note, it may take up to 97 days from the date of your workshop)

Is good for 3 years
There is no annual renewal paperwork
No annual reports to file
Eligible to collect species that would normally be restricted under fishing license regulations
No fishing license required

The fee may be paid using the online registration link included in the calendar event. Those needing to pay via purchase order must contact Collections beforehand for approval and share a copy of the PO as proof of pending payment. For those needing FMSEA vendor information, contact your facilitator.

Workshops are usually held at least once a month. This calendar reflects workshops up to 3 months out. For workshops beyond the 3 month window, please check back at a future date or contact: collections @ fmsea.org

MARCH 2025: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY - FWC IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE FMSEA ASCW AND EDUCATION/EXHIBITION SAL. ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T PASSED THROUGH THE FWC COMMISSIONERS YET (THEY ARE EXPECTING IT TO LATER THIS YEAR), IT HAS ALREADY GONE INTO EFFECT!

You will receive your certificate (which includes both marine and freshwater collection) through the FSMEA ASCW if you are a homeschool instructor a K-12 formal teacher and NOT affiliated with a college, aquarium, aquatic preserve, nature center, etc.

If you ARE affiliated with an aquarium, aquatic preserve, nature center, etc., you then will receive all the same benefits from the workshop listed above. However, you will need to contact the person in charge at your facility to be added to the list for the SAL you already have, or apply for an Education/Exhibition SAL (this is for marine collection only, for freshwater collection it is a separate application).You will not be receiving the certification through this workshop. If you have any questions or not sure if your organization already has a SAL that you would be listed on, please contact sal@myfwc.com .

Background

Beginning in 1996, FMSEA and The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (formerly DEP) began a partnership to develop and implement an aquatic species collection workshop for educators. The first workshop and facilitator training session was conducted at the April 1997 FMSEA conference.

The workshop is available to:

An instructor employed by, or under sponsorship of, an elementary or secondary school.
An instructor employed by, or under sponsorship of, another educational institution or organization with courses of biological or aquatic studies.
An individual who teaches in a home education program maintained in accordance with Section 1002.41, F.S.
A representative of a home education program association.

FMSEA Certification requires successful completion of the training workshop. The primary workshop objective is to promote best practices in the collection and maintenance of aquatic organisms for educational activities.

The certificate does not supersede any state or federal regulations, but it does allow the collection of specified numbers of certain species for educational purposes, some undersized, and to use certain types of collecting gear that would not be allowed under recreational fishing guidelines.

Upon successful completion of the training workshop, a participant receives a certification that is authorized by both FMSEA and Commission representatives. The certification:

Authorizes the harvest of certain fresh and saltwater organisms and specifies bag and possession limits.
Authorizes the use of specific scientific, educational, and recreational harvesting gears.
Specifies the fresh and saltwater areas in which harvest of aquatic organisms is allowed.
Provides an exemption from local laws when harvesting in a designated saltwater area.

Certificates are emailed out within 97 days. This certificate is valid for 3 years. Renewal workshops are available. Workshops are given annually at the FMSEA and FAST State conferences and throughout the year virtually and oftentimes regionally.

General Conditions and Restrictions

68B-8.003 General Conditions and Restrictions (1) (a) A SAL or FMSEA Certification will not be issued to a person and no person may conduct activities under a SAL if, during the 36-month period prior to the application or activity, that person has been charged with a violation of a rule in Titles 68A through E, F.A.C.; Chapter 370 or 372, F.S.; or 50 CFR Parts 622, 635, 640, 648, 654, 660, or 679 unless that person has received a final disposition of acquittal or dismissal of such charged violation.