Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Stocking TIlapia in Michigan ponds?

Not quite sure how to do things in the state of Michigan, but in California, private pond is defined as detaching waterbody (from the waters of the U.S.), on privately owned property, with no inherent discharge of the privately owned waterbody during annual rainfall, and does not locate on property that considered as easement, subjected under jurisdiction of municipality.

Good job in collecting information so far. Just like California, you can grow tilapia in isolated pond/lake, but the waterbody must not be drained to, spill out of, or connected hydrologically to any water of the state or U.S.. This includes and not limited to streams, rivers, lakes, ocean, washes, riparian habitats, deltas, and even basins designed as infiltration and/or sedimentary retention.

Leo, pretty much the same in Michigan. If the pond has a permanent inflow or outflow, even if the outflow goes across a pasture to a culvert, they will not allow stocking of Tilapia.

With that said, I FINALLY received my license today in the mail, so I can start applying for pre-importation permits to stock fish in Michigan. It was a LONG road!!!!

Awesome news! Time to spread some wholesome goodness all over MI.

Great news and CONGRATULATIONS!!
So what does this mean? You have to get VHS testing done or you have to have copies of test results from other fish farms? Do they even test tilapia?

What do you plan to truck into MI?

Thanks and yes. If I bring a fish from another hatchery, I use their test results as long as the fish do not touch water here in Indiana. If they do, then I have to submit 3 years of clean health tests to get the pre-importation papers.

The paperwork has been submitted, as soon as I receive the pre-importation papers I will be moving fish. I have a few to stock that are not "public waters of the state", so they can receive Tilapia, and I have orders for stocking of Northern Bluegill, which, typically will be approved for both types of ponds.

It is my understanding that as long as the ponds are truly private, no testing is required. But, the fish will all be tested and approved anyway, so that is a moot point.

Got it. Well, if you ever come as far as GR let me know. I would consider doing tilapia this year and my minnow traps show me that I have had some type of a successful RES spawn last summer and have some nice 1" young RES. That means this may be second full season of spawn and I think there may have been a few precocious RES the first year they were stocked that spawned late in the summer. Their only predator is YP so I may have to think about some single sex LMB or SMB or Walleye? I would need very small numbers though.

I just had an e-mail from Michigan and no testing is required if the pond is a private pond. I will be in Watervliet, Mi next week.

Single sexing fish season is over for me. I have to source LMB that are large enough to spawn and have eggs/milt. Then catheter each fish to find out what is inside. That is the only way I know to sex LMB or SMB. CC, I sent you a PM.