FL S1564

Defines "shellfish" to include oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops that may be harvested by hand tongs, hand, scuba diving, free diving, or wading from natural reefs and submerged lands.

Prohibits harvesting shellfish by dredges or mechanical devices from public shellfish beds in Apalachicola Bay and other natural reefs or submerged lands unless specifically authorized in a submerged land lease (chapter 253) or perpetual shellfish lease (chapter 379) issued before July 1, 1989.

Transfers authorization authority from the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to permit dredge and mechanical harvesting device use in submerged land and perpetual shellfish leases.

Establishes conditions for dredge and mechanical device use including nighttime prohibition (5 p.m. to sunrise), 48-hour advance notification requirement, limit of two devices per lease, and prominent lease number display on vessels.

Allows the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to issue special activity licenses for $25 annually per vessel using dredges or mechanical harvesting devices, excluding Apalachicola Bay operations.