Fish Farms

Fish Farm Registration

Veterans: For information on how to apply for License Fee Waiver under Act 209, see Veterans License Fee Waiver Program: 2011 Wisconsin Act 209.

If you operate a fish farm in Wisconsin, you need to register with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and renew your registration annually. You are operating a fish farm if you:
Hatch fish eggs or hold live fish for any of the following purposes:

• Sale or distribution
• Introduction into the waters of the state
• Fishing
• Use as bait or fertilizer
• Use as human food or animal feed
• Education, demonstration or research
• Or, holding live fish or fish eggs owned by another person

Holding live fish or fish eggs owned by another person.

Like any farm, a fish farm is a complex business. You will need to contact the Department of Natural Resources to find out what environmental permits you will need - these vary depending on the nature of your operation. You may also need permits from your local government or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

We have about 2,500 fish farms registered in Wisconsin. Only about 350 of these meet the above definition and actually use their facilities for business or educational purposes. The rest are privately owned ponds where the owners stock fish for their own use. You are not required to register your recreational pond as a fish farm, but many pond owners find that it saves them money and inconvenience.

You will also be required to register your livestock premises location so that you can submit the fish farm registration. Please call 888-808-1910 or go to the website and register yourself at www.wiid.org. Take the seven-digit livestock premises code, and place it on Page 3 of the fish farm registration application before submitting it for approval.

A Fish Farm Packet can be obtained by calling the Aquaculture Program Associate at 608-224-4887 or online.

Recreational Ponds
Learn why it makes sense to register your recreational pond as a fish farm.

For additional information contact 608-224-4887, or email.