Pennsylvania Code › Title 58 - RECREATION › Part II - FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION › Subpart B - FISHING › Chapter 71a - PROPAGATION AND INTRODUCTION OF FISH INTO COMMONWEALTH WATERS › Subchapter C - FISH INTRODUCTION AND HEALTH MANDATES › Section 71a.6 - Fish health certificate requirements

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) A fish
					 health certificate may be required, as specified in subsection (b), for fish
					 being imported into this Commonwealth and shall certify fish intending to be
					 introduced, place or stocked in waters of this Commonwealth are free of
					 specific diseases, pathogens or parasites determined by the Commission to be of
					 a risk to the fishery interests of the Commonwealth. The Commission will
					 consult with the Department for potential testing of dangerous transmissible
					 diseases of fish.
(b) The
					 Commission shall develop a Fish Health Inspection Protocol for Importation into
					 the Commonwealth and Introduction into Waters of this Commonwealth (protocol).
					 The Commission shall determine which diseases, pathogens or parasites are
					 required for testing for species of fish intending to be introduced into waters
					 of this Commonwealth. The Commission will consult with the Department for
					 potential testing of dangerous transmissible diseases of fish. Fish health
					 certification requirements and procedures shall be modified or updated by the
					 Commission, as necessary. When updates to the protocol occur, the Commission
					 shall publish the protocol as a notice in the
Pennsylvania
					 Bulletin
and notify the Department of the changes.
(c) The Commission may require testing for
					 intrastate introduction, placement or stocking of fish, as specified in
					 subsection (b), to prevent the introduction or spread of specific diseases,
					 pathogens or parasites that pose a risk to the fishery interests of the
					 Commonwealth. The Commission will consult with the Department for potential
					 testing of dangerous transmissible diseases of fish.
(d) The following fish health requirements
					 apply to the importation of fish into this Commonwealth:
(1) Fish and fish eggs imported into this
					 Commonwealth must originate from sources with a copy of the fish health
					 certification report for all applicable fish being stocked as indicated in the
					 protocol, or a copy of the fish health certification report for the artificial
					 propagation facility if the fish are from a facility that has been certified as
					 having tested negative for all applicable fish pathogens, unless the fish meet
					 one of the following requirements:
(i) The
					 fish are being transported through this Commonwealth, the shipping container
					 remains bio-secure in transit, and the fish are accompanied by documentation
					 stating the point of origin of the fish and the location outside of this
					 Commonwealth where they are to be delivered.
(ii) The fish are being transported to
					 facilities located within this Commonwealth for testing and scientific
					 purposes, the persons transporting the fish have taken adequate measures to
					 prevent escape and to disinfect discharged water and equipment used in the
					 transportation of the fish, and the fish are accompanied in transit by
					 documentation stating the point of origin of the fish and the destination where
					 they are to be delivered for testing or scientific purposes.
(iii) The fish are being transported to a
					 slaughter facility, processing plant or restaurant within this Commonwealth,
					 and the fish are accompanied in transit by documentation stating the point of
					 origin of the fish and the destination where they are to be delivered for
					 slaughter, processing or consumption.
(iv) The fish are dead, recreationally caught
					 fish that are being transported solely for the purpose of human consumption or
					 taxidermy.