Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 002 - Game and Fish Commission › Division 01 - Legal Division › Rule 002.01.22-018 - J1.01 Approved Commercial Aquaculture Species List

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
The intent of this list is to delineate species that pose
				minimal threat to Arkansas' aquatic biota. These farm-reared species may be
				imported, traded (within the state), or used for commercial aquaculture
				purposes, once appropriate permits and health certificate requirements have
				been met. All imported species must comply with health certification
				requirements (see Codes 35.11, 35.12, and Addendum Chapter
				I1.00).
* Denotes non-native species
Class Crustacea Family
Cambaridae
Procambarus acutus
(White River
				crayfish)
Procambarus clarkii
(Red Swamp
				crayfish)
Class Osteichthyes Family
Polyodontidae
Polyodon spathula
(Paddlefish)
Family Lepisosteidae
Lepisosteus oculatus
(Spotted gar)
Lepisosteus osseus
(Longnose gar)
Lepisosteus
				platostomus
(Shortnose gar)
Family Amiidae
Amia
calva
(Bowfin)
Family
Anguillidae
Anguilla rostrata
(American eel)
Family Clupeidae
Alosa chrysochloris
(Skipjack herring)
Dorosoma cepedianum
(Gizzard shad)
Dorosoma petenense
(Threadfin shad)
Family Esocidae
Esox americanus
(Grass pickerel)
Esox niger
(Chain pickerel)
Family Cyprinidae
*
Carassius auratus
(Goldfish, including
				ornamentals)
*
Ctenopharyngodon idella
(Grass carp) -
				USFWS-CERTIFIED TRIPLOIDS ONLY
Cyprinella venusta
(Blacktail
				shiner)
*
Cyprinus carpio
(Common carp, including koi)
				- Koi must be obtained from a permitted source and spawned and reared only in
				the United States
Hybognathus nuchalis
(Mississippi silvery
				minnow)
Luxilus chrysocephalus
(Striped shiner)
Lythrurus
umbratilis
(Redfin shiner)
Notemigonus
crysoleucas
(Golden shiner)
Notropis
				atherinoides
(Emerald shiner)
Notropis boops
(Bigeye
				shiner)
Notropis buchanani
(Ghost shiner)
Notropis
volucellus
(Mimic shiner)
Opsopoeodus
emiliae
(Pugnose minnow)
Pimephales
				notatus
(Bluntnose minnow)
Pimephales promelas
(Fathead minnow)
Pimephales vigilax
(Bullhead minnow)
Semotilus
				atromaculatus
(Creek chub)
Family Catostomidae
Erimyzon oblongus
(Creek chubsucker)
Erimyzon
sucetta
(Lake chubsucker)
Hypentelium
				nigricans
(Northern hogsucker)
Ictiobus bubalus
(Smallmouth buffalo)
Ictiobus
				cyprinellus
(Bigmouth buffalo)
Ictiobus niger
(Black
				buffalo)
Minytrema melanops
(Spotted sucker)
Moxostoma erythrurum
(Golden redhorse)
Catostomus commersoni
(White sucker)
Family Ictaluridae
Ictalurus furcatus
(Blue catfish)
Ameiurus
melas
(Black bullhead)
Ameiurus
				natalis
(Yellow bullhead)
Ameiurus nebulosus
(Brown bullhead)
Ictalurus punctatus
(Channel catfish)
Noturus gyrinus
(Tadpole
				madtom)
Noturus nocturnus
(Freckled madtom)
Pylodictis
				olivaris
(Flathead catfish)
Family Aphredoderidae
Aphredoderus
sayanus
(Pirate perch)
Family
Cyprinidontidae
Fundulus notatus
(Blackstripe
				topminnow)
Fundulus olivaceus
(Blackspotted
				topminnow)
Family Poeciliidae
Gambusia affinis
(Mosquitofish)
Family Atherinidae
Labidesthes sicculus
(Brook silverside)
Family Moronidae
Morone chrysops
(White bass)
Morone mississippiensis
(Yellow bass)
*
Morone saxatilis
(Striped bass)
Family Centrarchidae
Centrarchus macropterus
(Flier)
Lepomis
cyanellus
(Green sunfish)
Lepomis
				gulosus
(Warmouth)
Lepomis humilis
(Orangespotted sunfish)
Lepomis macrochirus
(Bluegill)
Lepomis
marginatus
(Dollar sunfish)
Lepomis
megalotis
(Longear sunfish)
Lepomis
microlophus
(Redear sunfish)
Lepomis
miniatus
(Red spotted sunfish)
Micropterus dolomieui
(Smallmouth bass)
Micropterus punctulatus
(Spotted bass)
Micropterus salmoides
(Largemouth bass)
Pomoxis annularis
(White crappie)
Pomoxis
nigromaculatus
(Black crappie)
Elassoma zonatum
(Banded pygmy sunfish)
Family Percidae
Percina caprodes
(Logperch)
Sander canadensis
(Sauger)
Sander vitreus
(Walleye)
Family Sciaenidae
Aplodinotus grunniens
(Freshwater drum)
Family Cichlidae - Species must be obtained from a
				permitted source and spawned and reared only in the United States
*
Oreochromis aureus
(Blue tilapia)
*
Oreochromis mossambicus
(Mozambique
				tilapia)
*
Oreochromis niloticus
(Nile tilapia)
Class Bivalvia
Family Unionidae
Pyganodon grandis
(Giant Floater)
VHS Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit:
It shall be unlawful for any person to import, transport or
				otherwise receive into the state of Arkansas live fish and/or fertilized eggs
				from any VHSV-positive state (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
				Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario and Quebec) without first obtaining
				the appropriate permit (see Code 35.01) in addition to a valid Fish Farm Health
				Inspection Permit issued by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and complying
				with the provisions of said permit. All persons wishing to ship live fish or
				fish eggs into Arkansas from VHSV-positive states must first obtain the Fish
				Farm Health Inspection Permit and a copy of the permit must accompany all
				shipments into the state, even if the fish are transported by a third party.
				Furthermore, any person hauling live fish through Arkansas from VHS-positive
				states are prohibited from discharging water from fish-hauling tanks while
				within the state. All shipments of live fish or eggs coming into Arkansas must
				be accompanied by an invoice, bill of lading, and appropriate health
				certificates in compliance with Code 35.03. Additionally, the fish health
				inspection report must be no more than 60 days old from date of reported test
				results at time of application for Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit from
				Commission.
A Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit shall be an annual permit
				that is issued in 2 sixmonth intervals (refer to Addendum D1.01). The first
				interval will cover the period of January 1 - June 30, and the second interval
				will cover the period of July 1 - December 31. The second interval of the
				permit will be issued only after new semi-annual testing results are submitted
				to the Commission. For additional information, please refer to Addenda D1.01,
				I1.01, and Code
				35.11.
Grass Carp (USFWS-Certified Triploid Only):
All grass carp sold for stocking purposes must be
				USFWS-certified triploid. Permitted producers participating in the
				USFWS-certified triploid grass carp program may transfer certification of
				triploidy to other holders of valid fish farm, fish dealer, or independent
				hauler permits that wish to sell USFWS-certified grass carp. All persons
				selling USFWS-certified triploid grass carp are required to maintain records
				for a minimum of 3 years containing the purchaser's name, contact information,
				and number of fish sold. All USFWS-certified triploid grass carp must be
				maintained in separate tanks, hauling units, and/or culture units from
				uncertified grass carp.
Health Certificates:
See Addendum Chapter I1.00 for fish health requirements for all
				live fish and/or fertilized eggs being imported into the state of Arkansas. All
				required documents must be submitted to the Commission and reviewed prior to
				importation.
Hybrids:
It is our intent that production and offer for sale of any
				hybrid fish species is permissible if both parent species are included on the
				Approved Commercial Aquaculture Species List.
Wild Crayfish:
The harvest and sale of native Arkansas crayfish species that
				naturally colonize aquaculture ponds and are cultured incidental to production
				of other aquaculture species is allowed.
Wild Turtles:
Aquaculture facilities possessing a valid Resident Fish Farmer
				Permit may depredate or relocate aquatic turtles naturally colonizing on the
				premises and impacting fish production, unless the turtle species is otherwise
				protected. The harvest and sale of native Arkansas aquatic turtle species that
				naturally colonize aquaculture ponds and are cultured incidental to production
				of other aquaculture species is allowed with an Aquatic Turtle Harvest Permit
				or Aquatic Turtle Farmer/Dealer Permit, unless the species is otherwise
				protected. See Code Chapter
				34.00.
Aquarium Species:
It is not the intent of this policy to constrain aquarium
				trade. Marine and tropical fish commonly distributed in the aquarium trade may
				be sold without special permit, as long as they are held only in closed
				aquarium systems (aquaria, tanks, or pools) and are not otherwise prohibited.
				These species cannot be released in Arkansas.
Aquaponics / Hydroponics:
It is not the intent of this policy to constrain
				aquaponics/hydroponic production. If live fish and/or fertilized fish eggs are
				being possessed, propagated, offered for sale, or conditional species are being
				utilized, at minimum a fish farm permit is required. Any approved species
				imported for aquaponics/hydroponics must comply with all requirements set forth
				in Code Chapter
				35.00 and Addenda ChaptersI1.00,
				J1.00, and V1.00, including health certificate, invoice, and bill of lading
				requirements.
Conditional Species:
Conditional species are species that are permitted for specific
				purposes provided the additional terms set forth by AGFC Fisheries Division and
				biosecurity measures are met. Individuals possessing or desiring to possess
				these species are required to apply for a Conditional Species Possession Permit
				in addition to the appropriate permit under Code 35.01. The permit application
				will detail the location of the facility, biosecurity measures taken to prevent
				the possibility of escape, and the numbers and species to be held (these
				numbers are best estimates of broodfish and expected production for upcoming
				year). Some species may be limited to specific types of permit holders based on
				a species evaluation.
The permitted culture of any conditional aquaculture species
				shall be conducted in a responsible manner that minimizes the possibility of
				escape and adheres to any additional requirements set forth by the Commission.
				Permitted individuals are required to construct a barrier that prevents escape
				of juvenile and adult life stages. Drainpipes from holding and culture units
				where these species are held must be screened, with mesh sized adequately to
				prevent escape, at all times that water is being released. Double screening is
				required during water release for units with bighead carp and black carp
				species. The above-referenced measures and any additional measures listed on
				the application to eliminate the possibility of escape will be considered as
				part of the best management practices that the applicant agrees to implement
				for their facility. The Commission will maintain records of the number and
				location of these species in the state and will review initial applications and
				inspect facilities to evaluate the potential for escape.
Facilities will be randomly re-inspected once in a three-year
				period of time to ensure adherence to biosecurity measures. The permittee will
				be notified a minimum of 5 days in advance of an inspection, and an employee of
				the facility is requested to accompany AGFC personnel during the inspection.
				This permit must be renewed annually and is non-transferrable. In the event
				that a conditional aquatic species is released or escapes from a permitted
				facility, the permittee shall notify the AGFC Fisheries Division immediately.
				The permittee shall not be responsible for unforeseen occurrences such as
				floods, lightning, or sabotage.
Holders of Conditional Species Possession Permits must verify
				that buyers of these species in Arkansas also have appropriate permits.
				Conditional species permit holders are required to submit an annual report, on
				a form provided by the Commission with the permit renewal request, indicating
				the number of each conditional species produced (farmers) or sold (dealers) in
				the state of Arkansas. Failure to comply with the terms of the permit may
				result in permit denial or revocation.
The species covered by these permits include:
Family Palaemonidae
*Macrobrachium rosenbergii
(Malaysian prawn) -
				certified disease-free (certification must be posted onsite). This species must
				meet the same disease certification requirements as members of Family
				Penaeidae.
Family Penaeidae
*Litopenaeus vannamei
(Pacific White Shrimp) -
				specific pathogen-free (certification must be posted onsite)
Requirements for culture of marine shrimp species
Litopenaeus vannamei
in Arkansas:
A. All culture must be in an indoor closed
			 recirculating system- with NO discharge. This will provide biosecurity
			 protection against pathogens, predators, and undesirable species from entering
			 or exiting the facility.
1. Floor drains - If
			 needed, each floor drain must have an appropriate- sized mesh/screen to prevent
			 escape by any sized cultured organism. Triple screening is recommended.
			 Discharge from floor drains must enter into the containment tank that can be
			 chlorinated and dechlorinated prior to release into an approved municipal sewer
			 system whose effluent is treated within the system.
2. Catastrophic failure - In the event of a
			 catastrophic failure the floor drain containment tank must be large enough to
			 accommodate the water volume of at least 1.5 times the volume of the largest
			 individual tank in use within the operation to prevent any escape. The
			 containment tank must be chlorinated and dechlorinated prior to discharge. Any
			 possible escape must be reported immediately to the AGFC Fisheries
			 Division.