Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation › Chapter NR 19 - Miscellaneous Fur, Fish, Game And Outdoor Recreation › Subchapter I - Miscellaneous › Section NR 19.05 - Release, importation and transportation of fish

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) No person,
				  persons, firm or corporation may bring into the state to introduce or release
				  or cause to be introduced or released in any manner into the inland or outlying
				  waters any fish or the eggs or spawn thereof, without first applying for in
				  writing and receiving a written permit from the department or its duly
				  authorized agents. The permit shall be granted only after the department or its
				  agents investigates and inspects the fish or the eggs or spawn thereof as it
				  deems necessary to determine that the introduction or release will not be
				  detrimental in any manner to the conservation of the natural resources of the
				  state. Inspection may include removal of reasonable samples of fish and eggs
				  for biological examination. The responsibility of licensees holding private
				  fish hatchery licenses is stated in ss.
				  29.735 and
				  29.736,
				  Stats.
(2) Permits to import fish
				  or eggs of the family Salmonidae (trout, char, salmon) shall be issued at no
				  charge to a person who has applied on a special form furnished by the
				  department. Such permit will be issued only if the immediate source of fish or
				  eggs is certified free of infectious hematopoietic necrosis, viral hemor-rhagic
				  septicaemia, whirling disease, enteric redmouth and Cera-tomyxa shasta, except
				  that eggs from wild stocks do not have to be certified free of whirling
				  disease. Certification shall be made in the state of origin and may be
				  accomplished only by biologists recognized by the department as competent in
				  diagnosis of fish diseases. For informational purposes the source of fish or
				  eggs will also be inspected for infectious pancreatic necrosis, kidney disease
				  and bacterial furunculosis. Inspecting biologists will submit a written
				  inspection report to the department. A copy of the importation permit must
				  accompany each shipment of fish or eggs.
(3) No person may transport live fish or live
				  fish eggs away from any inland or outlying water or its bank or shore, except:
(a) Live fish or live fish eggs being
				  transported out of state in compliance with the United States Department of
				  Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's regulations and
				  orders.
(b) Live fish or live fish
				  eggs that have been tested for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia using methods
				  approved by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and
				  that were found to be free of the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus.
(c) Live fish or live fish eggs being
				  transported with the prior written approval of the department, where the
				  department has determined that the proposed activity will not allow Viral
				  Hemor-rhagic Septicemia virus to be transported to other waters.
(d) Live minnows being transported away from
				  the water where they were taken by a bait dealer who harvested the minnows in
				  compliance with a wild bait harvest permit issued under s.
				  NR
				  19.057.
(e) Live minnows that were obtained from a
				  Wisconsin bait dealer and subsequently possessed by the person while on an
				  inland or outlying water, its bank or shore, if the minnows have not been
				  exposed to water or fish from that inland or outlying water.
(f) Live minnows that were obtained from a
				  Wisconsin bait dealer and subsequently possessed by the person while on an
				  inland or outlying water, its bank or shore, if the minnows will be used for
				  bait only on the same inland or outlying water, its bank or shore.