Aquaculture Site Evaluation Report

U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE, NOAA
NMFS PERMITS OFFICE, F/SER14
263 13th Avenue South

AQUACULTURE SITE EVALUATION REPORT

OMB No. 0648-205 Form
Approval expires 10/31/2014

St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 824-5326 (8 am - 4:30 pm ET)
Toll Free (877) 376-4877 (8 am - 4:30 pm ET)
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
SITE NUMBER

Reviewer Initials and
Date
INSTRUCTIONS: Provide the information required on the evaluation form- ALL BLANKS MUST BE FILLED IN. Additional sheets may be used, however
all information must be provided on this form. Any additional papers cannot be larger than 11 x 14 inches. When providing a copy of a portion of a nautical
chart showing the location of the site, ensure that the chart number, title and edition used are included. Use a chart large enough in scale to show
sufficient detail and allow for site location and inspection. All sites are to be a circle with a radius not to exceed 117.75 feet (0.019 NM); or 1.0 acre area.

Site Evaluation prepared for (Aquaculture applicant name)

Aquacultured Live Rock permits off the state of Florida are issued under the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers (COFE) General Permit SAJ-71 to deposit
material. Under SAJ-71, the total acerage of all sites maintained by a single permit holder must not exceed 1.0 acres. Applicants desiring to maintain
aquacultured live rock sites with a total area of more than 1.0 acre OR off the coast of a state other than Florida must first obtain permits to deposit material
from the USACE.

Latitude and Longitude must be reported as Degrees Minutes to the third decimal place (i.e. 24-32.123 N 085-45.456 W)
Latitude Center Point

Radius (in feet)
(Not to exceed 117.5 ft.)

Longitude Center Point
Method of determining Latitude and Longitude

GPS

DGPS

This site is located off the coast of the state of:

Minimum Depth of water over the site at mean low
water.

Description of the location of the site (i.e. 5.5 NM SW of Rock Key and .75 NM east of Sand Shoal)

1. Describe all possible hazards to safe navigation or hindrance to vessel traffic, interference with traditional fishing operations
or other public access that may result from aquacultured rock at the site.

Last Form Revision 06/10/2011
Page 1

2. Describe the naturally occurring bottom habitat at the site:

3. Describe the type, size, amount and origin of the material to be deposited on the site and how it will be distinguishable
(method of marking/tagging and description) from the naturally occurring substrate. You must provide a sample of the
material.

SIGNATURE
Preparer Signature

Date Signed

Printed Name

Position in Company if Corporation/Business/LLC

Qualifications/Experience of Preparer

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to to be 20 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to PRA Officer,National Marine Fisheries Service,
F/SER2, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
The National Marine Fisheries Service requires this information for the conservation and management of marine fishery resources. The data reported
will be used to develop, implement, and monitor fishery management activities for a variety of other uses. Responses to this collection are required to
obtain or retain a fisheries permit under the Magnuson - Stevens Act. Name and address information will be released via a NOAA
Fisheries website. All other data submitted will be handled as confidential material in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Protection
of Confidential Fishery Statistics. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be
subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Page 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AQUACULTURE SITE EVALUATION REPORT
General Instructions:
Applicants with specific questions may contact the SER Permits Office at (727)
824-5326 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
1. A site evaluation report must be submitted by the applicant to the NMFS, Permit
Office F/SER14, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The report
must be prepared by an independent source pursuant to generally accepted industry
standards and shall demonstrate that the proposed site:
a. Is not a hazard to safe navigation or a hindrance to vessel traffic; and
b. Avoids traditional fishing operations, or other public access; and
c. Avoids impacts to naturally occurring hard bottom habitat and submerged
aquatic vegetation; and
d. Contains natural underlying substrata that is primarily hard packed sand, hard
shell hash, or less than 6-12 inches of sand over rock.
2. A site evaluation report must be done for each application for a new permit - even on
established sites. You may include additional information in separate sources, but all
information must be provided on this form. Fields 1, 2, and 3 on this form shall not
refer to another source for information. Additional information, including photos or
videotapes of the proposed site, is encouraged to facilitate review of each
application.
3. A sample of the rocks to be deposited must accompany each Site Evaluation report.
(NOTE: Rocks may not be placed over naturally occurring reef outcrops, limestone
ledges, coral reefs, or vegetated areas. A minimum setback of 50 feet must be
maintained from naturally vegetated or hard bottom habitats.)
4. The applicant shall identify the site on a nautical chart in sufficient detail to allow for
site inspection, and shall provide accurate coordinates so that the site can be
located by Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) equipment. Site inspection
may be required on a case by case basis.
5. Sites off the coast of Florida which individually or cumulatively total more than 1.0
acres will not be authorized unless the applicant has individually obtained and
provides a copy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers special permit for Depositing
Material on such a site.