Utah Admin. Code R657-59a-5 - Certified Sterile Aquaculture Product

(1) For the purposes of this rule, the following hybrid fish species are considered certified sterile aquaculture product:

(a) Splake;

(b) Tiger Muskellunge;

(c) Tiger Trout; and

(d) Wiper.

(2) Triloid grass carp is considered a certified sterile aquaculture product if documentation is submitted by an aquaculture facility to the division that demonstrates that each fish is tested individually and meets the standards of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program. In addition, the same documentation must be provided by the aquaculture facility to customers who purchase triploid grass carp.

(3) All other species not specified in Subsections R657-59a-5(1) and (2) may be considered certified sterile aquaculture product if they are triploid and the following procedures are followed:

(a) fish samples from each lot of triploid fish at an aquaculture facility are collected, prepared, and submitted to a certified laboratory by an independent veterinarian, certified fish health professional, or other professional approved by the division or Utah Department of Agriculture and Food;

(b) certified laboratories shall be limited to independent, professional laboratories capable of reliably testing fish sterility and approved by the division;

(c) sterility shall be determined by sampling and testing 60 fish from each lot using either flow cytometry, particle analysis, or karyotyping;

(d) at least 95% of the fish test triploid; and

(e) the professional laboratory submitted the testing results directly to the division and the division issued the aquaculture facility a letter verifying that the lot meets the criteria established in Subsections R657-59a-5 -(3)(a) through (d). A copy of this letter must be provided to all customers who purchase triploid fish.

(4) An aquaculture facility that receives certified sterile aquaculture product from another aquaculture facility is not required to conduct additional sterility testing before stocking the aquaculture product, provided the division is given documentation demonstrating that the fish meet the requirements of Subsection R657-59a-5(3) and the sterile fish are kept segregated from other fertile fish.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R657-59a-5

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-23, effective 11/21/2023