(1) Except as provided in ss. 379.203 and 379.207, all saltwater license and permit fees collected pursuant to s. 379.354 shall be deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund, to be used as follows:
(a) Not more than 7.5 percent of the total fees collected shall be used for administration of the licensing program and for information and education.
(b) Not less than 30 percent of the total fees collected shall be used for law enforcement.
(c) Not less than 32.5 percent of the total fees collected shall be used for marine research and management.
(d) Not less than 30 percent of the total fees collected, for fishery enhancement, including, but not limited to, fishery statistics development, artificial reefs, and fish hatcheries.
(2) The proceeds from recreational saltwater fishing license fees paid by fishers shall only be appropriated to the commission.
(3) Funds available from the Wallop-Breaux Aquatic Resources Trust Fund shall be distributed by the commission between freshwater fisheries management and research and marine fisheries management and research in proportion to the numbers of resident fresh and saltwater anglers as determined by the most current data on license sales. Unless otherwise provided by federal law, the commission, at a minimum, shall provide the following:
(a) Not less than 5 percent or more than 10 percent of the funds allocated to the commission shall be expended for an aquatic resources education program; and
(b) Not less than 10 percent of the funds allocated to the commission shall be expended for acquisition, development, renovation, or improvement of boating facilities.
History.—s. 7, ch. 89-270; s. 6, ch. 90-243; s. 13, ch. 91-78; s. 212, ch. 94-356; s. 985, ch. 95-148; s. 5, ch. 96-300; s. 25, ch. 96-321; s. 4, ch. 98-203; s. 42, ch. 99-245; s. 17, ch. 2002-46; s. 10, ch. 2004-264; s. 1, ch. 2007-337; s. 22, ch. 2008-247.
Note.—Former s. 370.0608; s. 372.5701.
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