MDARD - Aquaculture Facility Registration

Aquaculture Facility Registration

Review the laws applicable to aquaculture facilities.
Print out the application form, fill it out and submit it, along with a check for $100 for new facilities or $75 for renewal of existing facilities, to Michigan Department of Agriculture, Animal Industry Division, PO Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909
If yours is a new facility, an MDA inspector will contact you within 30 days of receipt of the application. He or she will bring you a copy of the Great Lakes Fish Disease Control Policy and Model Program booklet. You may find this booklet online here. While at your facility, the inspector will fill out a report, a sample of which may be found here. The inspector will be primarily looking at containment barriers to ensure that they are adequate.
Once completed, the inspector will return the report to the MDA Animal Industry Division for a manager's review. If there are any problems found either by the inspector or the manager, you will be contacted and suggestions for improvement will be given and a re-inspection date and time will be established. Once you've passed inspection and managerial review you will be issued an official registration by the State of Michigan.
There are two inspections allowed per application. If the facility doesn't pass those two inspections, a new application and fee will need to be submitted.
Registration is good for one year, expiring on September 30^th. If you do not renew by October 1^st of the next year, renewal will no longer be an option and the full $100 will be needed to register your facility.
When renewing your facility's registration, simply fill out the application and send it in with a check for $75.