Last updated: April 21st, 2021
! Important Notice !
Aquaculturists transporting or selling aquatic animals are responsible for following current regulations required by each state in which the activity occurs (selling or transporting) and are advised to contact state regulatory agencies responsible for permitting these activities.
Ohio Department of Agriculture:State Aquaculture Regulatory Authorities
Dr Tony Forshey, State Veterinarian
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture
Division of Animal Industry
8995 E. Main St., Bldg. 6
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: 614/728-6220
Fax No: 614/728-6310
email: tforshey@agri.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Natural Resources:
Kevin Kayle
ODNR, Division of Wildlife
Fish Hatchery Program Administrator
ODNR, Division of Wildlife
2045 Morse Road; G-3
Columbus, OH 43229
Phone: (614) 265-6347
Fax: (614) 262-1143
email: kevin.kayle@dnr.state.oh.us
State Fish Health Authorities / Laboratories
Dr. Tony Forshey, State Veterinarian
tforshey@agri.ohio.gov
Dr. Yan Zhang, Veterinarian
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
614-728-6220
yzhang@agri.ohio.gov
Aquaculture Industry Contacts
Ohio Aquaculture Association
Ohio Aquaculture Extension:
State Extension Specialists:
Matthew A. Smith
Extension Aquaculture Specialist
OSU South Centers, College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon, OH 45661
Office: 740-289-2071, ext 121
Fax: 740-289-4591
email: smith.11460@osu.edu
Website: https://southcenters.osu.edu/aquaculture
Ohio Aquaculture Regulation Information on ODNR website
Aquaculture, bait and fish transport
Ohio Fish Importation Permits
Fish transportation and fish wholesale permits:
See Ohio Permits
Fish importation into the state of Ohio
Live fish imports intended for sale in the state of Ohio from out of state suppliers require the following documents:
a) Fish health inspection and testing report signed by a certified fish health inspector or veterinarian, showing disease free status (901:1-17-13 and 901:1-17-14 Administrative Code, see Ohio Department of Agriculture Oversight below for further information)
b) Fish Importation Permit issued by OH Department of Agriculture (contact Department of Agriculture Aquaculture Coordinator)
c) Transportation Permit issued by ODNR Wildlife Division (fee)
Intrastate movement of live fish requires a Transportation Permit from ODNR. Current restrictions exist for movement within the state of VHS susceptible species (see VHS Page).
Permits required and obtained through ODNR include:
Aquaculture Facility Permits
Commercial Wholesale Permit
Fish Transport Permit
Baitfish Dealer Permit
Stocking Permit (only for public waters of the state)
Triploid White Amur (Triploid Grass Carp) Permit
1) See ODNR Aquaculture, Bait, and Transport Web Page
Ohio Department of Agriculture Oversight
The Ohio Department of Agriculture has veterinary authority for importation of live aquatic animals.
Live fish importation permits (AC901:1-17-13)
Salmonids (fish, eggs, sperm) importation requirements are found in AC901:1-17-13.
Remaining species (approved for import into OH) are covered in the blanket coverage of 901:1-17-01 General requirements and Ohio's 2015 VHS Proclamation. For additional information and permit application contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture Aquaculture Coordinator.
VHS Proclamation – prohibits movement of VHS susceptible species from areas in the Lake Erie watershed across an established boundary line unless certain requirements are met. See the VHS Proclamation Order for specific requirements. Update includes importation of emerald shiners from out of state to a location north of the line of demarcation without VHS testing.
Fish health certification requirements (AC901:1-17-14)
ODAG fish testing and inspection requirements are located in AC901:1-17-14. In summary all lots on a farm need to be tested on a prevalence level of 5% at a 95% confidence level. Some contingencies apply. See the fish testing and inspection requirements at http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/901:1-17-14v1
Definitions are found in AC901:1-17-2. These include “accredited laboratory”, “approved veterinarian”, “certificate of veterinary inspection”, and “certified fish health inspector”.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Oversight
Ohio aquaculture facility permit (ORC 1533.632)
Ohio residents rearing and propagating fish for sale require either a Class A or Class B aquaculture permit obtained through ODNR depending on the species being raised. Class (A or B) is designated based on whether the species is classified as “unrestricted” or “restricted”. Fees are required for aquaculture permits. Bait Dealer and Transportation permits can be obtained free with Aquaculture Permit, while a wholesale permit is not free with Aquaculture Permit.
For additional information and a list of approved (unrestricted and restricted) and prohibited species see ODNR Publication 5061.
Commercial wholesale permits (ORC 1533.631)
Commercial wholesale permits are required to sell freshwater fish at wholesale in Ohio. Fees are required for Wholesale Permits. Exemptions exist for sales under 500 pounds and persons selling under baitfish dealer permits. Commercial Wholesale permits are under the same permit application required for a Fish Transportation Permit, and are valid for 1-year.
Fish transport permit (ORC 1533.301)
Persons transporting fish from outside or inside the state, for destination in Ohio must obtain an annual Fish Transportation Permit from ODNR. Similar conditions and exemptions apply as for the commercial Wholesale Permit (above). Fees are required for Fish Transport Permits unless included with Aquaculture Permits. Exemptions exist for sales under 500 pounds and persons selling under a baitfish dealer permit. Fish transportation permit forms are available at ODNR’s Permit web page.
Baitfish dealer permit (ORC 1533.40)
Persons who buy, sell, or deal in minnows, crayfish, or hellgrammites or collects the listed species for sale must obtain a Baitfish Dealer Permit from ODNR. Permits are valid for 1-year and expire on 12/31. A fee is required. Baitfish species must be already established in Ohio.
Included as bait fish starting 2016 are bullheads (brown, black and yellow) and select sunfish species (bluegill, longear, green, orange-spotted, pumpkinseed, redear and warmouth). These species are not collectable from the wild and must be obtained from a licensed source or reared in an Aquaculture setting. Common carp (and all Cyprinus carpio variants) are now collectable species and can be sold as baitfish.
Stocking permit
Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-13-01-7 requires individuals wishing to stock any species into waters of the state to obtain permission from the Chief of ODNR Division of Wildlife. Health certification is required. Contact the ODNR Aquaculture Contact person listed above for permit requirements.
Triploid White Amur (triploid grass carp) permit
Persons wishing to import or sell triploid white amur in Ohio must obtain written authorization from ODNR. See ODNR White Amur/ Grass Carp Permit
Prohibited aquatic species
Injurious Aquatic Invasive Species are not permitted to be possessed without the approval of the Chief of ODNR Division of Wildlife. The species list can be found in ODNR Publication 5490.