Fish Farms

Importing Fish

While a new law that took effect April 16, 2012 exempts Wisconsin fish farmers from having to acquire an import permit, most of the other regulations remain in place, including the need for fish health certificates.

Wisconsin Act 207 amends a number of state statutes that affect aquaculture, including the animal health statute that covers imports of farm-raised fish and eggs.  The law removes the import permit requirement for importing fish or fish eggs from fish farms in other states to Wisconsin.  The fish or fish eggs must still have fish health certificates that meet the standards of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  Previously, importers were required to have both health certificates and import permits.

Other parts of Act 207 affect the permits that fish farmers obtain from the Department of Natural Resources and confidentiality of fish farm laboratory records at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

For greater detail, review Act 207 concerning changes impacting aquaculture in Wisconsin.  You will need a PDF reader to view the code.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has administrative rules regarding importation of non-native species of fish. Some non-native fish include: Arctic char, Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, pink salmon, redear sunfish, tiger trout and tilapia. Stocking fish into waters of the state require a WDNR Fish Stocking Permit. Fish farm registrations are available here and stocking permits can be obtained here.

Fish Movement Rules for Other States can be found here: http://www.ncrac.org/Info/StateImportRegs/stateregsmain.htm

For additional information call 608-224-4887 or e-mail.