Welcome to the Finfish Suppliers Information Page.
Please read all information below as some of our requirements have expanded.
For out of state suppliers that broker fish from other aquaculture facilities, in addition to filling out the permit application and supplying all fish health inspection documentation from those facilities where you will be obtaining those fish, you will need to complete and submit documentation of an isolation facility for these fish if you plan on holding them in an alternative location prior to stocking. A copy of the form to use for this can be found
here.
Note: You do not have to use our sample form as long as your health inspection form includes all the pertinent information
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Authority:
The Out-of-State Supplier Permit to sell finfish intended to be stocked in Maryland waters from other states is issued pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, Natural Resources Article §§4-11A-02, 4-11A-21, and 4-602 and Code of Maryland Regulations 08.02.14.10. All activities authorized herein must be carried out in accord with and for the purposes described in the application submitted. The permit is subject to complete and timely compliance with all applicable conditions, including the filing of all required information and reports, and strict observance of all applicable foreign, federal, state or local other state laws.
Registration conditions:
The permit is subject to the following conditions:
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The permit is limited to the sale of finfish from a facility outside Maryland;
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Finfish to be stocked in Maryland must be evaluated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to assess risk of any known viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections that have the potential to harm native or naturalized aquatic resources as determined from mandatory fish health history and testing documentation submitted in this application;
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Only finfish from approved locations and of acceptable species or genetic origin, may be stocked into Maryland waters;
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The sale of the finfish shall be accompanied by a receipt showing the origin of the product, date of sale, name and address of the supplier, species and amount of product; and
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Live finfish that meet the conditions above shall not be stocked into Maryland waters unless specifically accompanied by a permit to stock fish in Maryland waters.
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All fish must come from approved sources, are held in isolation once received on the facility and each species listed on the application must come from the source listed on the permit. Fish health inspections of the approved sources of fish terminate one year from the effective date of the inspection, or upon discovery of a prohibited or regulated disease. An up to date fish health inspection from the fish sources listed on this permit must be provided to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for this permit to remain valid for species and sources listed.
Fish Health Inspection Requirements
Any supplier seeking approval to stock fish in Maryland waters must undergo an annual fish health inspection. For questions concerning the requirements, including what testing is required and who may conduct a fish health inspection, please contact the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Director, Barbara Johnston, at
Barbara.johnston2@maryland.gov or (443) 510-2353.
A fish health inspection is defined as an on-site, statistically based representative sampling of
all fish lots from a facility for certifiable pathogens. Fish health inspection testing shall be conducted according to methods detailed in the most recent editions of the
Fish Health Section Blue Book: Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service & American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section) or the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE– World Organization of Animal Health).
An inspection report is required, and shall include: species examined, lot descriptions, number of fish per lot, where the lots originated and whether they were received as eggs or fish, the pathogens tested for and the number of fish sampled for each pathogen, the results of previous inspections if available, water supplies on the facility, name, address and phone number of the fish health inspector, signature and date of the fish health inspector or responsible party. Fish health inspection reports shall list inspector qualifications and laboratory methods used for pathogen detection.
Facilities that use OIE inspection protocols (150 fish/farm), and also culture both salmonid species and warm-water species, shall test a minimum of 150 warm-water fish and 150 salmonids for the pathogens of concern. Facilities that use Blue Book inspection protocols are typically required to test 60 fish from each lot on the facility. Whirling disease testing is required for only 60 fish of the most susceptible species on each specific water source. The detection of certain pathogens will not necessarily disqualify the supplier from importing fish into Maryland. The DNR Aquatic Animal Health Program Manager will evaluate discrete test results in consultation with the supplier.
Fish Inspection Pathogen Inspection Requirements are species-dependent and shall include:
Species of the Salmonidae (e.g. trout, salmon, char) Family
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
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Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA)
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Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
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Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
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Whirling Disease (Myxobolus cerebralis)
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Bacterial Kidney Disease (Renibacterium salmoninarium)
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Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
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Enteric Redmouth (Yersina rukeri)
Species of the Cyprinidae (e.g. minnows), Castomidae (e.g. suckers) and Osmeridae (e.g. smelt):
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Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
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Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
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Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
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Koi Herpesvirus (KHV)
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Enteric Redmouth (Yersina rukeri)
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Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
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Asian Tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi)
Species and hybrids of the Centrarchidae (e.g. black bass), Moronidae (e.g. striped basses), Percidae (e.g. walleye, yellow perch) and Esocidae (e.g. pikes):
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Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
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Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
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Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
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Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV)
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Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
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Enteric Redmouth (Yersina rukeri)
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Asian Tapeworm (Bothrioscephalu acheilognathi)
Species of the Ictalurid (Catfish) family:
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Channel Catfish Virus (CCV)
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
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Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
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Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
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Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC or
Edwarsiella ictaluri)
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Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
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Enteric Redmouth (Yersina rukeri)
Species of the Cichlidae (Tilapia) family:
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Tilapia Lake Virus
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Tilapia Iridovirus Infections
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Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
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Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
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Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN)
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Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
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Furunculosis (Aeromonas salmonicida)
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Enteric Redmouth (Yersina rukeri)
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Streptococcus iniae
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Streptococcus agalactia
Some species may require consultation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for any additional specific pathogens of concern for that species. Additionally, any other cytopathic effects (CPE) in viral testing shall be reported. The qualified inspector, as defined below, shall determine whether testing for additional pathogens is appropriate. Testing shall include the most susceptible fish on the facility in the sampled lot. Testing shall include a representative sample of all lots, species, and life stages housed at the facility. The sample shall include any moribund fish or fish showing signs of disease, if available. You shall notify the inspector if you have treated the fish with any therapeutics, including antibiotics, within the past 30 days of the sample collection. The inspector shall note any treatments in the fish health inspection report. Any chemicals applied to fish shall adhere to label usage and U.S. Food & Drug Administration regulations and protocols.
The fish health inspection will terminate one year from the effective date of inspection certificate, or upon discovery of a prohibited or regulated disease, provided that no new fish or eggs from an uncertified source are added to the population. You shall notify the Maryland Department of Natural Resources if any fish are added to the population after the facility inspection report is issued. These additional fish are required to demonstrate suitable fish health inspection reporting.
Inspector Qualifications
No owner or employee with direct supervisory authority over a facility may serve as an inspector for their fish culture facility. Inspector qualifications and contact information shall be listed on the inspection report. Individuals that collect samples for a fish health inspection must be one of the following:
An accredited and licensed veterinarian: a veterinarian holding a current veterinary license who has also fulfilled the accreditation requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS).A certified aquatic animal health inspector or fish pathologist: an individual certified by the American Fisheries Society/Fish Health Section (AFS/FHS) as an Aquatic Animal Health Inspector or Fish Pathologist.A person recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources with responsibility and training for fish health inspections in the state from which the fish originate.
Acceptable Detection Methods of Pathogens
- Protocols for presumptive and confirmatory diagnosis listed in the Fish Health Section Blue Book: Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens.
- Protocols listed in the 2019 OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals for each of the OIE-listed fish diseases under “Section 2.3., Diseases of Fish”.
Lot Definitions:
Lot (Baitfish): is a pooled collection of a single species that is held in a self-contained holding structure. A
new lot is formed every time uncertified fish are added to an existing lot. When fish from distinct lots are
combined, they form a newly distinct lot. Adding fish from an inspected/certified source will not result in the
creation of a new lot.
Lot (Broodstock): a group of sexually mature fish on a facility of the same species that share a common water
source at the facility.
Lot (Wild Fish): is a pooled collection of a single species that is obtained from a discrete spawning
population collected from a river system, lake, stream, pond or ditch. Various age groups can be combined to
form a single lot.
In broodstock lots where ovarian fluid is available, sampling for viral pathogens should be conducted
at the 95% confidence level of detecting a 2% APPL. If kidney/spleen and ovarian fluid samples are
going to be used, they must be obtained from different individuals.
Lot (Non-Broodstock): is a group of non-broodstock fish on a facility of the same species and age group that have continuously shared a common water source at the facility throughout their life history.
Please direct all inquiries or hard copy submissions of testing data to:
Martha Bruder
(410) 260-2403
FAX: (410) 260-8279
pond.dnr@maryland.gov
