Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi! I'm Mark, and I know very little about aquaponics, although I'm fairly good at gardening.

Being in Fresno County, I am not legally allowed to grow Tilapia, so right now I'm looking for fish that are legal for me to grow. I'm looking for an omnivorous fish that works well with catfish. Bluegill is currently on the top of my list, but I don't like how small they are. Maybe some kind of perch would work, if I can find a good one in the California Central Valley.

I have the space for 2000 gallons worth of IBC containers (saying that is sort of like saying "ATM machine, isn't it?). I'll start with one (250 gallons) and keep adding as my system grows. I have a lot of room for growbeds.

I'm looking for other people in the area to share information with, and have started a meetup group for aquaponics in Fresno - if there are any people in the California Central Valley that want to meet and discuss things. Maybe trade fish? (that is, when I finally get fish).

You can find my beginnings, all my future mistakes, and a link to the meetup site at http://www.backyardcrop.com/.

Now, anyone in the Central Valley have advice on fish?

Mark

Welcome! I'm 150 miles West of you in Salinas. A little far for meeting up probably. I just finished chopping up 2 IBCs and burying some plastic tubs. Soon I'll be plumbing and adding gravel. I thought the no-Tilapia rule only applied to commercial projects (I assume yours is not). I certainly want to get my facts straight before I purchase. What's your source on this information?

I get the information from the California Department of Fish and Game. They talk about Tilapia in several places on their website, and their list of registered aquaculturists shows who is allowed to sell what, and is ordered by county. Tilapia can't be sold in Fresno County.

According to the California DFG, "Restricted Species Laws and Regulations" there is an enumerated list of what IS legal to keep, by county.

For Tilapia, it says:


So from my reading of this, Redbelly Tilapia are legal in 6 counties, by permit. Fresno County is not listed.

The DFG has a "Private Aquaculture Information and Registration" page with a list of Registered Aquaculturists on it. Registered Aquaculturists in Fresno County are listed with the fish they are allowed to sell. No one in Fresno County sells Tilapia

So far, I'm not happy with my choices. I'm leaning toward a mix of catfish, black crappie, and bluegill - keeping the bluegill and crappie in separate tanks with catfish in all tanks. I'll start with two tanks.

crappie may be difficult to get on pellet feed, but let us know how it goes!

*Grumble* to California. Thanks to you.

Yea, I've read that. I've also read that they can be trained young. Still....

I like how easy it is to breed Tilapia. My hope is that I can breed my fish. I want bigger Bluegill, and more domesticated Crappie.

What I really want is an omnivorous fish that takes pellets and loves treats like worms. Something that grows to a decent size in 6-12 months, and is very tolerate toward water quality. Oh, and it must be delicious and good for you.

While I'm wishing, I'd like to win the California mega-jackpot Lotto too.

Another hobbyist told me, "Just raise Tilapia, and don't tell anyone!" Yea, no. First, I can't afford the possible penalty. Second, I'm writing down everything in my online website.

California really does irk me sometimes.

Join up with the California Aquaculture Association. They are lobbying California to release the restrictions on Tilapia. Apparently the law was put in place without any real study or reason, and the CAA is trying to change that.

Im about 300 miles away from both of you in Nevada, looks like there are similar laws for tilapia here. From what I read if I apply for and get a fish importer liscense or something it may be able to work, but probably not.

Point of interest... There is a guy local to me (Santa Cruz, CA) who sells a species of Tilapia that is not on the restricted list. He called the DFG and everyone told him he shouldn't keep/sell them, but couldn't give him the regulation that prohibited it. He finally talked to a manager who told him it's their "policy" to disallow any species of Tilapia, but there is no reglation against it. This is from someone who is openly selling Tilapia on CraigsList (but it's hearsay none the same).

The Surface Water Treatment Plant at the City of Clovis has a demonstration aquaponics system. They had to jump through quite a few legal and political hoops all the way to Sacramento to get it classed as a "Demonstration Aquarium" that is lawfully allowed to house Tilapia.

So when one branch of the government has to get permission from another branch of the government, I am inclined to act cautiously.

Perhaps it isn't unlawful, but it might take a test court case to prove this. Personally, I don't have the money or time for a trial.

Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) are allowed in CA without permit as far as I know.

Are yabbies allowed? They make for good eating as well and are damn easy to breed. Not a fish but they work well in AP all the same

I am originally from San Diego, you can see why I left...

Well this is a huge disappointment to just learn about Ca not 'allowing' tilapia unless you beg for permission and pay them their extortion in only the lower counties. Since when do the People need to beg their servants for permission to exercise a right?

1. THAT No state may convert a secured liberty right into a privilege, issue a license and fee for it. (Murdock vs Pennsylvania 319 US 105 at 113 (1943)).
2. The Supreme Court has broadly and unequivocally held that requiring licensing or registration of any constitutional right is itself unconstitutional. (Follett vs. Town of McCormick, S.C., 321 U.S. 573 (1944))
3. THAT Should any state convert a secured liberty right into a privilege, charge a fee and issue a license for it, one may ignore the license and fee and engage in the exercise of the right with impunity. (Shuttlesworth vs City of Birmingham 373 U.S. 262 (1962))
4. "A void act cannot be legally consistent with a valid one. An unconstitutional law cannot operate to supersede any existing law. Indeed insofar as a statute runs counter to the fundamental law of the land, it is superseded thereby. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law." (Bonnett v. Vallier, 116 N.W. 885, 136 Wis. 193 (1908); Norton v. Shelby County, 118 U.S. 425 (1886))
5. THAT "Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule making or legislation which would abrogate or abolish them." (Miranda v. Arizona 384 U.S. 436 at 491, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed. 2d 694 (1966))
6. "The State cannot diminish the rights of the people." (Hurtado v California, 110 U.S. 516))
7. Should any state convert any right to work into a privilege, issue a license and charge a fee, the same is unconstitutional, null and void, bears no obligation to obey, and is without effect in law. (Marburry vs Madison 5 US 137 (1803))
8. THAT one who relies on prior decisions of the Supreme Court has a perfect defense for willfulness. (U.S. v. Bishop, 412 U.S. 346 (1973)
9. as “The claim and exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime.”(Miller v. U.S., 230 F.2d. 486, 489 (1956)
10. "There can be no sanction or penalty imposed upon one because of his exercise of Constitutional Rights." (Sherar v. Cullen, 481 F. 2d 946 (1973))
11. "The assertion of federal rights, when plainly and reasonably made, are not to be defeated under the name of local practice." (Davis v. Wechler, 263 U.S. 22, 24; Stromberb v. California, 283 U.S. 359; NAACP v. Alabama, 375 U.S. 449))
12. “No public policy of a state can be allowed to override the positive guarantees of the U.S. Constitution.” (16 Am.Jur. (2nd), Const. Law, Sect. 70)

I'm just an out of work plumber these days, but it has given me much time to study law I otherwise wouldn't of had. I'm taking a short break from my law studies to learn all about aquaponics. I'm inclined to raise the darn tilapia despite any code statute or ordnance. To beg public servants for permission ti exercise my constitutionally protected and guaranteed rights is unacceptable to me. It would be nice if they stopped getting off treating everyone like children. I have no intention of allowing any fish into ANY lake or stream. So, unless a tilapia can sprout legs or grow wings and walk to or fly under it's own power to such places, there is 100% ZERO threat to the local fish and eco systems. AND I doubt a flash frozen filet is going to jump out of a package and go breeding in their public ponds! Can you tell I'm just a little angry after having just found this out?





Thanks for the tip kellenw! The law does not allow them to make it up as they go along. It must be SPECIFIC. Unfortunately, they are constantly making assumptions and unless rebutted, their assumptions stand as law.

Man, am I pissed off right now! Any new news come down the pike since this thread was first started? I'm just so sick of hitting dead ends and dealing with these pin heads anymore. Arrrggg!

Pretty sure there's no constitutional right to raise tilapia.

The ability to support yourself is a right.