Alaska Administrative Code
Title 5 - Fish and Game
Part 1 - Commercial and Subsistence Fishing and Private Nonprofit Salmon Hatcheries
Chapter 41 - Collection, Transportation, Possession, Propagation, or Release of Aquatic Organisms; Aquatic Farming
Article 3 - General Provisions
5 AAC 41.080 - Reporting and control of fish diseases at egg-take sites, hatcheries, and rearing facilities

(a) The requirements of this section apply to all public and private egg-take programs, fish hatcheries, and fish rearing facilities in the state.

(b) Within 24 hours of taking and fertilizing live fish eggs or transporting live fish eggs between watersheds, all eggs must be treated, for at least 10 minutes, with an iodine solution of at least 100 parts per million of active iodine ingredient, with pH at least 6.0 or greater, or in a manner approved by the fish pathology section of the department. This requirement does not apply to shellfish eggs, and the commissioner may also exempt eggs taken at large-scale pink and chum salmon facilities where the operational history for the preceding five years shows that disease has not been a problem in returning stocks of fish.

(c) As determined by the commissioner, each fish hatchery or fish rearing facility may be inspected by the department's fish pathology section once every other year or less depending on the suitability of the fish stock disease histories. The commissioner may require and conduct additional inspections if the disease history of the stock or facility is incomplete, or if the disease history or current condition of the stock evidences incidence of disease.

(d) The occurrence of any of the following pathogens or diseases of fish must immediately be reported to the department's fish pathology section:

(e) Diseases reported under (d) of this section, or found by inspection under (c) of this section, must be treated by taking steps acknowledged by the fish pathology section to be effective in eliminating the disease. Containers or facilities must be disinfected by the permit holder in a manner directed or approved by the commissioner.

(f) If the commissioner determines that a Class I disease pathogen in finfish stocks or Class I disease pathogen exotic to North America in shellfish stocks is detected within a hatchery or rearing facility, the commissioner will require immediate action, including quarantine, stoppage of water flows to eliminate effluent release, complete destruction and proper disposal, such as caustic lime burial or incineration, of affected stocks within the facility, and a thorough disinfection of holding areas and equipment. An affected facility may be required to remain dry or out of production for one year and be certified free of the disease pathogen before continued production of fish or shellfish. If Class I disease pathogens exotic to this state, but not to North America are detected in oysters in this state, destruction of those oysters by the permit holder may be required if the commissioner determines that the disease pathogen poses a threat to the health and perpetuation of native, wild, or hatchery stocks of shellfish in the immediate area or the intended release location. In limited circumstances, the commissioner may allow retention or transportation of these diseased fish or shellfish under controlled conditions that pose no threat to native, wild, or hatchery stocks of fish and shellfish, such as movement to a disease laboratory having effluent depuration.

(g) Stocks of finfish in hatcheries or rearing facilities in which a Class II disease pathogen has been detected may require destruction and complete disinfection of the facility by the permit holder depending on the pathogen involved as determined by the commissioner, and if the disease poses a threat to the health and perpetuation of native, wild, or hatchery stocks of finfish in the hatchery effluent watershed or the intended release location.

(h) The presence of pests recognized in Class II nuisance pathogens which may be exotic to this state will result in refusal of shellfish import certification by the commissioner until resubmitted representative samples of the shipment are free of non-target invertebrate species. The commissioner will also refuse certification or restrict movement of oysters if there is oyster mortality or disease associated with the prevalence of any infectious pathogens.