Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Laws about moving and stocking fish

Here's my two cents on moving and transporting fish:

The laws are there for a reason and I respect most of them. However from the perspective of someone involved in aquaculture you need to know there are some flies in the ointment. One is, the very agencies that are in charge of coming up with the laws and enforcing them have double standards and a conflict of interest. Some of the biggest violators of bringing in exotics and exotic fish diseases have been these same agencies that are in charge of enforcing these laws!

The common carp was introduced by the Federal government! At one time the Federal government planted and transported fish from coast to coast with no regard to the consequences to native populations.

A present day example of a double standard is Ohio came down with a serious disease known as IPN (Infectious Pancreatic Necrocis) in some of their salmonid hatcheries. Did they destroy the fish and start all over like the rules say they are required too? No, they cited economic hardship and decided the disease was not so serious afterall and planted those fish in Ohio waterways. An obvious cop out and a flagrant violation of the intent of the law.

My state of Indiana also came down with the same disease in a couple of hatcheries. Even though the fish tested positive they did not destroy all the fish, and made the statement that it was O.K. to plant the fish as there was no observed mortality. Another cop out. But you can bet as a private producer I would not have had that liberty to change the rules.

To have the same agencies that have a conflict of interest in charge of enforcing is a very bad idea. It's like the old adage of having the fox guard the hen house. A state's Dept. of Agriculture should be in charge of disease protocols not the very same people that have a conflict of interest.

Another problem I have is some of the rules are not always backed by good science. My state requires 3 years of consectutive testing of nine pathogens for trout imported outside the Great Lakes basin in 2005. Next year it will be four, the follwing five etc. One very noted pathologist I know says anything after two years is not backed by any good science. Another problem with this rule is if a hatchery outside the Great Lakes basin starts this very expensive testing this year he will always be two years behind until 2009. However at the same time any fish inside the basin only need to be tested for two pathogens for 3 years max.

Many of the laws have loopholes that help out the state agencies, are outdated, and as with many rules and permits they only keep the honest folks in check.

I have to jump through hoops to bring in trout to stock my pond. I've driven as many much as 24 hours round trip just to bring in trout that meet my state's disease inspection standards. It's crazy from the perspective of a fish farmer.