North Central Regional Aquaculture Center

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

Minnesota

Last Updated: June 2, 2008

State Aquaculture Regulatory Authority

State Fish Health Authorities / Laboratories

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
1333 Gortner Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108-1098
(612) 625-8787
(800) 605-8787
Fax: (612) 624-8707
E-mail: VDL@umn.edu

Minnesota DNR Fish Pathology
Ling Shen 651-259-5138, ling.shen@dnr.state.mn.us
Ranjit Bhagyam 651-259-5077,  ranjit.bhagyam@dnr.state.mn.us
500 Lafayette Rd, Box 25
St Paul, MN 55155-4025
Path Lab. 651-259-5096

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Oversight:

Summary of MN import requirements:

Nearly all regulatory authority for aquaculture and baitfish is promulgated though MNDNR.  A full listed description of MN regulations for aquaculture can be reviewed at:  MN Fish Hatchery Regulations 3 MB pdf

In summary, live fish imported to MN from another state must be accompanied by either a Bill of Lading or Transportation Permit.  Minor exceptions do exist including non-minnow species moving through the state for delivery to another state (for exception review see the link under “Fish importation, transportation and stocking”.  Both these permits are issued directly by MNDNR.  Other highlights of MN importation requirements are listed below (note that exceptions exist for most of these conditions which can be reviewed in MN statute sites listed above and below):

• Bill of lading is typically for intrastate transport of aquatic life other than salmonids and catfish between licensed facilities.
• Copy of the bill of lading must be submitted to the regional fisheries manager at least 72 hours before the transportation. 
• Transportation Permits are the standard permit for live fish importation from another state and require fish health certification.
• Trout, salmon, and catfish from a nonemergency enzootic disease area may be shipped to a containment facility if the fish are certified within the previous year to be free of certifiable diseases.
• Fish from emergency enzootic disease areas (e.g. VHS susceptible species from the Great Lakes) may be imported only as fertilized eggs and under specific conditions (see below).
• Transportation permits are required for moving minnows through MN even though the destination is another state. 

Aquatic farm license

Aquaculture farm licenses are required to raise aquatic animals for sale.  Various endorsements of the aquatic farm license are also required.  These include minnow dealer and retailer licenses, minnow exporting license aquatic farm vehicle endorsement, minnow dealer vehicle license, minnow retailer vehicle license, exporting minnow vehicle license, fish vendor license, sucker egg taking license, and game fish packers license.

See statutes 17.4984 and 17.4988 for additional licensing and fee information:

www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=17.4984

www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=17.4988

MN approved aquatic animal species

Species approved for importation to the State (standard rules) must be indigenous and/or naturalized to MN. Game fish and minnow species are defined in MN statute 97A.015.

www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=97A.015

Fish importation

MN statute 17.4986:  www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=17.4986

From non-emergency enzootic disease area:

The commissioner shall issue transportation permits to import:

(1) indigenous and naturalized species except trout, salmon, and catfish from any source to a standard facility;

(2) trout, salmon, and catfish from a nonemergency enzootic disease area to a containment facility if the fish are certified within the previous year to be free of certifiable diseases, except that eggs with enteric redmouth, whirling disease, or furunculosis may be imported following treatment approved by the commissioner, and fish with bacterial kidney disease may be imported into areas where the disease has been previously introduced;

Note:  See definition – Containment facility www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=17.4982

(3) trout, salmon, and catfish from a facility in a nonemergency enzootic disease area with a disease-free history of three years or more to a standard facility, except that eggs with enteric redmouth, whirling disease, or furunculosis may be imported following treatment approved by the commissioner, and fish with bacterial kidney disease may be imported into areas where the disease has been previously introduced.

From emergency enzootic disease area.

Eggs with enteric redmouth, whirling disease, or furunculosis may be imported following treatment approved by the commissioner, and fish with bacterial kidney disease may be imported into areas where the disease has been previously introduced.

Fish may be imported from emergency enzootic disease areas only as fertilized eggs under the following conditions:

1. to be imported into a standard facility, fertilized eggs must have a disease-free history for at least five years;
2. to be imported into a containment facility, fertilized eggs must have a disease-free history for at least three years;
3. or to be imported into a quarantine facility, fertilized eggs may have a disease-free history of less than three years.

Fish importation, transportation and stocking

MN statute 17.4985.  www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=17.4985

This statue includes the following subsections: Requirements for fish importation transportation and stocking, Bill of lading, Exemptions, Transportation permit requirements, Permit application, and Vehicle identification.

Fish health inspections

17.4985

An application for a transportation permit for salmonids and catfish, their eggs, or sperm must be accompanied by certification that the source of the eggs or sperm are free of certifiable diseases.  Eggs with enteric redmouth, whirling disease, or furunculosis may be imported, transported, or stocked following treatment approved by the commissioner.  Fish with bacterial kidney disease may be imported, transported, or stocked into areas where the disease has been previously introduced.

Note:  Only eggs (no live fish) are allowed to be imported from states of emergency enzootic disease areas (e.g. VHS).   Special conditions apply including disease free status( see “Fish importation” above). 

17.4982

Subd. 12. "Fish health inspection" means an on-site, statistically based sampling in accordance with processes in the Fish Health Blue Book for all lots of fish in a facility.

Subd. 13. Fish health inspector. "Fish health inspector" means an individual certified as a fish health inspector by the American Fisheries Society or state, federal, or provincial resource management agency (must not have a conflict with outcome).

Minnow importation and transportation

MN statute 97C.515.  www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=97C.515

Live minnows may only be imported into MN under the following conditions:

• May be transported through the state (requires a permit for transportation)
• Use in home aquariums
• Processing or feeding hatchery fish
• Import minnows from other states for export under special permission

Other pertinent statutes:

97C.301 License to take fish

97C.501 Minnow licenses required

97C.525 Restrictions on transportation of minnows           

Other States Information:

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