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

I was unable to talk to anyone in the past two weeks that actually knew anything about stocking ponds period. One person sent me to another person who STILL hasn't returned my voice mail.

An e-mail was sent to 3 people on the MDNR website that were listed as having something to do with the pond stocking permit, one replied, one e-mail addy was incorrect (was rejected) and one has not replied yet. The one that DID reply, also forwarded my e-mail to a person who sounded like they knew what they were talking about, and they gave me 2 more contacts which I will follow up with on Monday.

It seems there are 3 lists. One of approved fish, one of NOT approved fish and a 3rd that has fish that are in limbo, given approval or not, on a case by case basis. Hopefully this weekend I will have time to search for the approved and "limbo" lists.

From talking to that person, it seems that if the pond is considered to be "waters of the state" there is about an hour of paperwork on my end that I have to do, send it to the potential purchaser, then they have to fill out the stocking permit form and send it in. Once it is approved, they have to send me a copy of it so I can legally deliver the fish. The caveat is if I hold the fish here in Indiana for any length of time, even in a holding tank with well water, I have to get the fish health certified, AND I HAVE TO HAVE PASSING CERTS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS......

So, realistically if I want to hold any fish here, or raise them here and then deliver them to Michigan I have to spend approximately $1,800.00 per fish species over the next 3 years before I can legally deliver any fish that are held here to Michigan ponds. If I pick up the fish from my supplier and deliver them without holding them here for any length of time, I am o.k. using the fish suppliers health certs.