LIFESTYLE

Collecting Florida Fossils? // Get a Permit and Stay Legal

On August 10, 2020
By Kimberly

Get Your Permit – Stay Legal

If you think you might want to collect a few fossils, make sure you apply for and receive your Florida Fossil Permit in advance. However, it’s not necessary for collecting shark teeth.

Doing the Right Thing Even When No One Is Watching

While some people might tell you there’s no enforcement, or that no one bothers; it’s still a good idea to apply for and receive your Florida Fossil Permit. My dive partner Bill has no interest in collecting bones, so he doesn’t maintain a permit. I do, so I do.

First of all, it’s the law. That’s enough for me. Secondly, our resources are not infinite, and what’s out there doesn’t really belong to me; it belongs to all of us. So, it’s best to be responsible and “do it right.”

Permit Applications

Florida Fossil Permits are $5 a year, you can find it here: Florida Fossil Permit Application and Permit, and they do ask that you send an annual report of your finds.

Prohibited Actions

Even when you hold a Florida Fossil Permit, you are prohibited from destroying, defacing, buying or selling of vertebrate fossils found on or under land owned or leased by the state and on land in state-designated vertebrate paleontological sites.

Your Responsibilities When Collecting

The permittee must abide by all the provisions contained in Florida Statutes § 1004.575-576 and the University of Florida Regulation implementing this law. This means allowing accredited institutions the option for temporary or permanent loan of the fossils you find under permission of your Florida Fossil Permit so they can study, display, or curate them.

*Photos of collections courtesy of Venice Dive Center and Florida West Scuba and Charters.

Fines and Charges

Participating in any of the prohibited actions without first obtaining a Florida Fossil Permit is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no more than $500 or six month and under imprisonment in the county jail, and the fossil will be confiscated.

Submitting Images of Your Finds

The Florida Museum would like to see digital images of your find, and, in return, they will identify them! Hooray!

You can even post photos on your website, and email them the address! Mailing specimens is also allowed, and they will be returned.

Great Resources

Best of all, there’s a large section on their website about preserving fossils! Removing deposits, preparation, conservation – it’s all covered here, and from the experts. It’s a whole book’s worth of information.

Just having access to this information is worth the $5 a year the Florida Fossil Permit will cost you.

We Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable – not just recycled and recyclable.
Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves. With code “DeepWH” you save 20% on the TC2 course
MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code “MAY25” for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
Airbnb, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.”
Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”
RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
Dazer Ii Ultrasonic Aggressive Dog Deterrent Repeller Dazzer – keeping dogs at bay while we cycle.
Guardline Security Wireless Driveway Alarm – alerts us when someone approaches. Less expensive directly from the company.
Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
AD: affiliate links used.