370.1111  Snook; regulation.--

(1)(a)  In addition to licenses required by s. 370.0605, any person who takes and possesses any snook from any waters of the state must have a snook permit. The permit remains valid for 12 months after the date of issuance. The cost of each snook permit is $2. Each snook permit issued pursuant to this section is valid only during the times established by law for the taking of snook. The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, any tax collector, or any appointed subagent may sell the permit and collect the fees therefor.

(b)  The intent of paragraph (a) is to expand research and management to increase snook populations in the state without detracting from other programs. Moneys generated from snook permits shall be used exclusively for programs to benefit snook populations.

(c)  All permit fees collected by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission shall be transferred to the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund within 7 days following the last business day of the week in which the fees were received by the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

(2)  The department may periodically conduct competitions to select a designer of the snook stamp. Also, the department may enhance revenues from the sale of snook stamps by issuing special editions for stamp collectors and other such special purposes.