Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 002 - Game and Fish Commission
Rule 002.00.07-018 - Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Fish Health Importation Permit Requirements

Universal Citation: AR Admin Rules 002.00.07-018

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024

VHS Proposed Regulation

03.17 LICENSES, PERMITS, STAMPS, TAGS, COSTS AND

EXPIRATION DATES

SPORT FISHING:	CODE	COST	EXP. DATE
Resident Fisheries Conservation License.....FS	H $ 10.5	0 **
Resident 3-Day Trip License...........	RT3	$ 6.50	*
Resident Disabled Fishing 3-Yr License....	RDF	$ 10.50	+
Resident Disabled Combination 3-Yr License.	RDC	$ 35.50	+
Non-Resident Annual Fishing License ..........	NRF	$ 40.00	**
Non-Resident 14-Day Trip Fishing License..	N14	$ 22.00	*
Non-Resident 7-Day Trip Fishing License....	NT7	$ 17.00	*
Non-Resident 3-Day Trip Fishing License....	NT3	$ 11.00	*
Arkansas Trout Permit ..................................	TPR	$ 5.00	**
Non-Resident Trout Permit ...........................	TPN	$ 12.00	**
White River Border Lakes License.....	WRL	$ 10.00	**
Guide License/Fishing .................................	GLF	$ 25.00	**
Non-Resident Guide License/Fishing	GNF	$150.00	**
SPECIAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHING:
Hoop Nets (with or w/o leads), Turtle Nets...	HN	$ 4.00	Dec. 31
Slat Traps & Fiddler Nets ............................	FS	$ 12.50	Dec. 31
Commercial Trotlines (inc. snaglines, throw-lines, limb lines, set hooks) per 100 ft .........	TL	$ 5.00	Dec. 31
Box Traps Turtle Trap .........	TT	$ 2.00	Dec. 31
Commercial Tackle (Seine, Trammel & Gill Net 100 yds. or fractional part thereof per tag .....	s) SNS	$ 15.00	Dec. 31
Commercial Fisherman's Permit & Sportfishing License...........	CFS	$ 25.00	Dec. 31
Commercial Fisherman's Helper Permit ........	CFH	$ 25.00	Dec. 31
Junior/Senior Commercial Fishing Permit... JS	C $ 14.5	0 Dec. 31
Alligator Farmer/Dealer Permit ......................	AFP	$200.00	June 30
Alligator Tags ................................................	$ 4.00	June 30
Alligator Snapping Turtle Breeder/
Dealer Permit ...............................................	AST	$100.00	June 30
Aquatic Turtle Harvest Permit.......	THP	$100.00	Dec. 31
Aquatic Turtle Harvest Helper Permit....	TH	$ 50.00	Dec. 31
Junior Aquatic Turtle Harvest Permit....	JTH	$ 25.00	Dec. 31
Aquatic Turtle Dealer Permit.......	TDR	$250.00	Dec. 31
Non-Resident Aquatic Turtle Dealer Permit.	TDN	$500.00	Dec. 31
Aquatic Turtle Farmer Permit.......	TBP	$100.00	Dec. 31
Resident Shell Taker and Seller ...................	STS	$100.00	Dec. 31
Shell Taker Helper Permit ............................	SH	$100.00	Dec. 31
Shell Buyer ...................................................	SBR	$1,000.00	Dec. 31

Non-Resident Shell Buyer ............................	SBN	$2,000.00	Dec. 31
Shell Buyer's Agent Permit ..........................	SA	$100.00	Dec. 31
Resident Fish Dealer ...................................	MD	$ 10.00	Dec. 31
Non-Resident Fish Dealer ..........................	FDN	$250.00	Dec. 31
Minnow Dealer Tackle (Minnow
(Seine, Traps or Lifts) ..................................	MS	$ 5.00	Dec. 31
Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit	VHS	$200.00	+++
Fish Farmer (Aquaculturist) Permit	FF	$ 25.00	Dec. 31++
Bull Frog Permit (Must have valid Fish
Farmer Permit) ............................................	BP	$ 25.00	Dec. 31
Resident Roe Taker/Seller Permit	RTS	$500.00	Dec. 31
Resident Roe Taker/Helper Permit	RH	$100.00	Dec. 31
Resident Roe Buyer/Exporter Permit	RBE	$1,000.00	Dec. 31
Non-Resident Roe Buyer Permit RBN $2,000.0	0 Dec. 3	1
Commercial Boat Dock Permit ......................	BDN	$ 25.00	Dec. 31
Commercial Boat Dock (User Fee) ................	BPL	$150.00	Dec. 31
Private Boat House (Single) ..........................	BHS	$ 5.00	Dec. 31
Private Boat House (Double or Joint) ...........	BHD	$ 10.00	Dec. 31
Private Boat Dock (Single) ...........................	DPS	$ 5.00	Dec. 31
Private Boat Dock (Double or Joint) .............	DPD	$ 10.00	Dec. 31
Put & Take Pay Lake ....................................	PLO	$150.00	Dec. 31
HUNTING LICENSE AND PERMITS:
Resident Wildlife Conservation License......	HNT	$ 10.50	June 30
Resident Sportsman's Permit.......................	RS	$ 25.00	June 30
Resident Disabled Hunting 3-Yr License...	RDH	$ 25.00	+
Resident Disabled Combination 3-Yr License.	RDC	$ 35.50	+
Non-Resident Annual All Game License ....	NBG	$300.00	June 30
Non-Resident 5-Day All Game License .......	AG5	$150.00	*
Non-Resident 3-Day All Game License .......	AG3	$100.00	*
Non-Resident Annual Small Game License.	NRH	$ 80.00	**
Non-Resident 5-Day Small Game License...	SG5	$ 55.00	*
Non-Resident Fur Takers.............................	NFT	$125.00	June 30
Private Lands Elk Permit...........	PLE	$ 35.00	****
Arkansas Resident Waterfowl Stamp ...... ...	DSR	$ 7.00	June 30
Arkansas Non-Resident Waterfowl Stamp	DSN	$ 20.00	June 30
AG&F Leased Lands Permit (Hunting, Trapping	and Cam	ping)
Casey Jones WMA................................	LCJ	$ 20.00	**
Big Timber WMA...................................	LBT	$ 20.00	**
Cherokee WMA.....................................	LCH	$ 20.00	**
Gum Flats WMA............	LGF	$ 20.00	**
Provo WMA..............	LPR	$ 20.00	**
Lafayette County WMA.........	LLC	$ 20.00	**
Jim Kress WMA ...........	LJK	$ 20.00	**
Moro Big Pine WMA ..........	LMP	$ 20.00	**
Falconry Permit Apprentice............ .......	FPA	$ 25.00	***

Falconry Permit General.........................	FPG	$ 25.00	***
Falconry Permit Master...........................	FPM	$ 25.00	***
Resident Guide License/Hunting............	GLH	$ 25.00	June 30
Non-Resident Guide License/Hunting ...	GNH	$150.00	June 30
Resident Special Guide License ....... . .....	GLS	$150.00	June 30
Non-Resident WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit (5-day trip)............	NW5	$ 10.00	*
Non-Resident WMA Seasonal Waterfowl Hunting Permit ............	NWP	$100.00	June 30

*Good from requested day of issue for period of license. **Good for 1 year of purchase date. ***Falconry Permit will expire on July 31, 1998, then 2001,

etc., in line with the Federal program. ****When 10 elk have been harvested. *****Good for that season only. + Good for 3 years from date of purchase ++Fee applies to initial purchase. No fee for annual renewal. +++Permit is annual permit issued in two (2) 6 month intervals.

HUNTING COMMERCIALIZATION:
Resident Fur Dealer ......................................	FD	$ 50.00	June 30
Non-Resident Fur Dealer ..............................	NFD	$200.00	June 30
Special Commercial Quail Permit ................	CQP	$ 25.00	June 30
Game Bird Shooting Resort Permit ...... ...	CSR	$150.00	June 30
Commercial Wildlife Hunting Resort Permit.	CHR	$ 500.00	June 30
Wildlife Breeder/Dealer Permit......	WBD	$ 50.00	June 30
Wildlife Importation Permit......	WTP	$ 25.00	June 30
LIFETIME LICENSE:
Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Fishing License ............................................	PLF	$ 10.50	Non-Expiring
Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Sportsman's Hunting License and Permit ..................................................	PLH	$ 25.00	Non-Expiring
Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Combination License ..................................	PLC	$ 35.50	Non-Expiring
Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Waterfowl Permit..........	PLD	$ 7.00	Non-Expiring
Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Trout Permit ...........	PLT	$ 5.00	Non-Expiring
Non-Expiring Lifetime Resident Hunting & Fishing Sportsman's Permit .........................................................	LSP $	l,000.00	Non-Expiring

42.11 VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA VIRUS (VHSV) FISH IMPORTATION REGULATION.

(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to import, transport or otherwise receive into the state of Arkansas live fish and/or fertilized eggs from any VHSV-positive state without first obtaining a valid Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit issued by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and complying with the provisions of said permit. All persons wishing to ship live fish or fish eggs into Arkansas from VHSV-positive States must first obtain the Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit and a copy of the permit must accompany all shipments into the state, even if the fish are transported by a third party. Furthermore, any person hauling live fish through Arkansas from VHS positive states are prohibited from discharging water from fish hauling tanks while within the state. All shipments of live fish or eggs coming into Arkansas must be accompanied by an invoice or bill of lading that clearly describes the origin(s) of all fish and/or eggs in the shipment.

(B) For purposes of this regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) "Appropriate Fish Sample" shall mean 150 fish representing all fish lots and culture units present on a farm or facility. The ratio of fish lots on the farm or facility should be reflected in the composition of the sample. The sample should not be collected from tanks or raceways used for short term storage of fish produced in other culture units.

(2) "Appropriate Season" shall be the calendar dates describing spring and fall.

(3) "Appropriate testing methods" shall mean cell culture followed by an appropriate confirmatory test. The protocol must be as described in the Inspection Section of the most recent edition of the American Fisheries Society - Fish Health Section (AFS-FHS) Blue Book, or must be conducted according to approved protocols in a laboratory listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as approved to do testing for VHSV.

(4) "Culture Units" shall mean ponds, raceways, cages or other containment used to rear fish.

(5) "Farm-raised" shall mean fish that spend their entire life (egg to sale) on a farm or commercial facility.

(6) "Lot" shall mean a group of fish that are of the same age, from the same broodfish, and that live on a single farm or facility in water from the same source.

(7) "Qualified independent party" shall mean a veterinarian, an AFS-FHS Certified Fish Health Inspector, or an employee of the State agency recognized as the competent authority for fish health and assigned by that agency to collect fish inspection samples and verify biosecurity.

(8) "Qualified testing laboratory" shall mean any State, Federal, or private laboratory duly recognized by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as competent to conduct fish inspections.

(9) "VHSV-free water source" shall mean water from a well, borehole, or spring (the spring must be covered and free of fish).

(10) "VHSV-positive State" shall mean any state in the United States, or any Canadian province, listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV).

(C) A Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit may be issued by the Commission to persons that submit to the Commission, on forms provided by AGFC, satisfactory documentary proof including the following information.

1. Proof that an appropriate fish sample has been collected by a qualified independent party during the appropriate season and submitted to a fish health inspection laboratory for analysis;

2. Inspection reports from a qualified testing laboratory asserting that the sample tested "negative" for VHSV by appropriate testing methods; and

3. Written documentation from a qualified independent party asserting that the fish are farm-raised, that the farm or facility uses a VHSV-free water source, and that fish or eggs to be shipped to Arkansas have not been mixed with, or potentially contaminated by, fish or water that do not meet the standards specified for a Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit.

To be eligible for a Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit, a farm or facility must provide written documentation from a qualified independent party verifying that the farm or facility has a biosecurity plan sufficient to prevent contamination of permit-eligible fish by ineligible fish or by water that is not from a VHSV-free source, and that the farm or facility follows that biosecurity plan without exception. Additionally, the fish health inspection report must be no more than 60 days old from date of reported test results at time of application for Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit from Commission.

(D) A Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit shall be an annual permit that is issued in two (2) six (6) month intervals (see Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit code 03.17). The first interval will cover the period of January 1 to June 30th, and the second interval will cover the period of July 1 to December 31st. The second interval of the permit will be issued only after new semi-annual testing results are submitted to the Commission. Annual renewal may be granted based upon submission to the Commission of new documents as described in (C) above that include new semi-annual testing results. Failure to conduct a semi-annual inspection will result in a 1-year suspension of the Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit.

(E) Exceptions: A Fish Farm Health Inspection Permit shall not be required for import of live fish from a VHSV-positive state if:

(1) The fish are moving to a State-inspected slaughter facility that meets the following criteria:

a. The slaughter facility must discharge waste water into a municipal sewage system that includes waste water disinfection

b. The slaughter facility must either render or compost offal, including carcasses.

(2) The fish are moving to a qualified diagnostic facility for disease testing.

(3) The fish are ornamentals and meet the following criteria:

a. The fish are moving directly to a home aquarium.

b. The fish are moving to wholesale or retail distributors of ornamental fish and will be held in aquaria, tanks, or lined pools.

PENALTY: $500.00 to $5000.00. Illegal fish and equipment used in such violations (including but not limited to transport vehicles) may be seized and confiscated in accordance with Code 1.00-D.

SECTION 44.00 TEMPORARY AND EMERGENCY ORDERS

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Arkansas Administrative CodeAgency 002 - Game and Fish CommissionRule 002.00.07-018 - Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Fish Health Importation Permit Requirements

Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 002 - Game and Fish Commission
Rule 002.00.07-018 - Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Fish Health Importation Permit Requirements