North Central Regional Aquaculture Center

Illinois - Aquaculture Contacts, Transport Regulations, and Approved Aquatic Species

Illinois

Late Update:  5/28/2008

State Aquaculture Regulatory Authorities   

Illinois Emergency VHS Rules 7-2008

State Fish Health Authority / Laboratories – none for industry

IDNR fish health specialist for State fish health issues:

Larry Willis

Phone: 309/968-7531

In-state sample collection / prep / submission only:

Paul Hitchens, Aquaculture Specialist

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Phone (618) 453-5590

Aquaculture Industry Contacts

Illinois Aquaculture Association

Bob Boyd

1855 Kratsinger Hollow Rd

Cobden, Illinois 62920

Phone: 618/525-1419

www.bobshrimp.com

IL Fish Dealers List

A listing of private fish dealers in IL is available at the IDNR website:

www.dnr.state.il.us/fish/PrivateDealers03.htm

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Oversight

Summary of IL fish import requirements:

Nearly all regulatory authority for aquaculture and baitfish is promulgated though IDNR.

Much of the requirements for aquaculture activities in the state are covered by regulations:

17 ILL. ADM.CODE sec 870.50 (see: www.dnr.state.il.us/legal/adopted/870.pdf ) and 515 ILCS5/.

In summary, persons wishing to import live aquatic animals into the state from an outside state must obtain:

        a) live fish importation permit (or salmonid importation permit) from IDNR (time limit – no fee)

        b) non-resident fish dealer permit from IDNR (annual - fee)

        c) restricted species transportation permit if the species is not listed on the IL Aquatic Life Approved

            Species List www.ncrac.org/Info/StateImportRegs/illinois_approvedspecies.htm

Live fish imports/ fish health requirements

(515 ILCS 5/10‑105) (from Ch. 56, par. 10‑105)

Sec. 10‑105. Fish importation permits. Live fish, viable fish eggs, or viable sperm of any species or hybrid of salmon or trout may be imported into the State only by the holder of a fish importation permit and other required State permits. Importation permits shall be issued at no charge to a person who has applied on a Department special permit form, no less than 15 days nor more than 30 days before shipment, provided that the shipment is not considered detrimental to the fishery resource of the State.

An importation permit shall be issued only if the source hatchery is inspected and found free of those diseases designated by administrative rule of the Department, or any other diseases, that may be detrimental to the fishery resource of the State. Inspections may be carried out only by persons recognized by the Department as competent in the diagnosis of fish diseases (contact IDNR Program Manager for clarification).  An importation permit may be granted by the Department for extended periods of up to 6 months from the date the source hatchery is certified as being disease free.

Importation permit requirements do not apply to salmon or trout in transit through the State that will not be released from their original containers.

(17 ILL. ADM.CODE sec 870.50)

Health certifications for salmonid importations include, but are not limited to: VHS, IHN, CS-ceratomyxosis, PKD.

The Department recognizes persons inspecting hatcheries using the methods of diagnosis found in "Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens" 4th ed., Version 1 (1994), published by the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society or the "Manual of Compliance to the Fish Health Protection Regulations of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada (1988).

Aquaculture facility permits

(515 ILCS 5/20‑90)

Sec. 20‑90. Aquaculture permits. Any person who shall engage in the breeding, hatching, propagation, or raising of aquatic life, whether indigenous or non‑indigenous to this State, shall first procure a permit from the Department to do so. Aquatic life specified, which is bred, hatched, propagated or raised by a person holding a permit as provided for in this Section, may be transported and sold for food or stocking purposes. Permittees who sell aquatic life propagated or raised under this permit are exempt from possessing a fish or minnow dealers license.

Sec 870.30.  Permit applicants wishing to import/possess aquatic life that appears on the Aquatic Life Approved Species List may apply for a permit prior to completion of their aquaculture facilities. Permit applicants wishing to import/possess aquatic life not on the Aquatic Life Approved Species List must have an aquaculture facilities plan completed and approved by the Department prior to issuance of the aquaculture permit. Such an issued permit is conditional, pending final inspection.

Non-resident fish dealer permits

Non-resident fish dealer permits allows a non-resident of IL to sell or ship to other wholsalers, retailers or consumers in IL any protected aquatic life.  This is an annual permit with fee and expires on 1/31 of every year.  Call DNR at 217/785-3423 or 217/782-2965 for application.

Restricted species transportation permits

Section 870.60

A restricted species transportation permit is required for live grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp, or hybrid grass carp. Restricted Species Transportation Permits are available from the Division of Fisheries, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1271. Applications must be received by the Division of Fisheries at least two weeks prior to the proposed shipment date. A "Restricted Species Transportation Permit" shall be required for each shipment, except that extended permits covering regular periodic deliveries may be granted by the Department pursuant to Section 10-105 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Triploid grass carp under 4 inches in length cannot be shipped, transported or stocked and may be possessed only by authorized aquaculture permit holders.  Some exemptions exist for private lake and pond owners.

Resident retail and wholesale fish dealer permits

Resident retail fish dealer permits are required for IL residents conducting a retail fish market or selling from a truck aquatic life that are protected species and indigenous to Illinois.  Resident Wholesale Fish Dealer is issued to IL residents conducting a wholesale fish market or selling aquatic life wholesale that are protected species and indigenous to Illinois.  These are annual permits with fee expiring on 1/31 of every year.  Call DNR at 217/785-3423 or 217/782-2965 for applications.

Resident retail and wholesale minnow dealer permits

Resident retail minnow dealer permits are required for retail sale of minnows and frogs for bait.  Resident Wholesale Minnow Dealer allows the wholesale sale of minnows and frogs.  These are annual permits with fee expiring on 1/31 of every year.  Call DNR at 217/785-3423 or 217/782-2965 for applications.

Resident and non-resident mussel dealer permits

Resident Mussel Dealer permits are required for Illinois residents who receive, buy or offer to buy or who act as agents or brokers in the receipt or purchase of mussels.  Non-resident mussel dealer permits are required for non-residents who purchase mussels in Illinois.  These are annual permits with fee expiring on 1/31 of every year.  Call DNR at 217/785-3423 or 217/782-2965 for applications.

Other States Information:

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