Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

While not directly related to aquaponics as such...

This is the sort of thing that could result is licensing and/or strigent controls being placed on aquaponic systems... backyard and commercial...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008 ... 176502.htm

A timely reminder to all to observe State regulations regarding fish species, fish translocations and fish releases....

Anyone that flouts guidelines or recommendations... or advises others to do so....

Should seriously consider both the possible personal ramifications... and those that migh affect backyard aquaponicists in general...

Good post. I'm sure many of you have already run into this but it is important to do you legal homework on what you can and cannot do when raising fish.

As a beginner, newbie, greenhorn, to Aquaponics like I am, I was confused by all the legal mumbo jumbo my state puts out on wildlife. I finally e-mail them, told them what I wanted to do. They were nice enough to point me to the legal codes that would affect me for non-commercial raising of fish. Looks like its going to cost me $10U.S. annually to have permission to raise, consume, and release on "private" property....

You might not even have that much trouble if that permit fee is for socking an in ground private pond. If you are doing tank culture and won't be releasing any fish into any surface waters, does that permit and fee still apply?

My comment is of course assuming you are not selling any fish, you are only using legal fish (as in what anyone can buy to stock their farm ponds without any sort of aquaculture permit of license) and again, the fish are not being released into any surface waters or ground dirt ponds. Only tank culture where there is no risk of the fish escaping into nature.

It depends on many things. If I was raising goldfish, I wouldn't need it but I do because I want to raise game fish like trout. However, it changes from state to state. Here is a "Summary of State Laws Relating to Breeding Wild and/or Exotic Animals" http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exoticbreeding.php

Here is a bit more about it,
Seems he was releasing home bred Salmon into the waterways

On Friday the 29 February 2008 Boris Pervuhin, of
Meander appeared before Magistrate P. Wilson at the
Launceston Court of Petty Sessions charged with
operating a fish farm without a fish farm licence,
releasing fish without written consent of the Director
and rearing propagated salmon without written consent
of the Director. Mr Pervuhin pleaded guilty and was
fined $10,000 plus costs of $30 and given two years to
pay.



.

Since when has $10000 been "petty"???
I wonder what would have happenned if he went to the 'serious court'?

Yes I read he was releasing. Whilst he no doubt had the best of intentions, unfortunately, the risk of introducing disease would be too great.
This is why it's regulated.
I'd love to dump some SP in our waterways, as they're endangered, and at $1.00 ea or less (Thanks Monya) I can't see why we're not doing it, but no way would I release them myself without government approval (and perhaps a grant)

waow! I live in Launceston! I'd better do my homework berofe I start putting anything other than Goldies in my fish tank!

The situation in my home state is related more to the type of fish being released. If they are native fish, there is generally no problems, but if they are not native to the area or the waterway WATCH OUT!!! Not only do the fines and other punishments go up as to whether or not the species are native, but also by the numbers released.

If the fish are kept on private property, with no means of release into the area waterways, there is generally no problems with stocking and rearing them. Fish have been classified as "livestock" by our state department of Agriculture, provided they have been obtained from licensed sources. If they are gathered from natural sources the person keeping them must do so under the state wildlife code, and may not keep more than the permitted numbers under the code.