Basic Information on Starting an Aquaculture Facility

Laws:  The Michigan Aquaculture Development Act (Act 199, Public Acts 1996) gives the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) the authority to regulate aquaculture facilities.

Definitions: The act defines an aquaculture facility as a farm or farm operation engaged in any aspect of aquaculture in privately controlled waters capable of holding all life stages of aquaculture species with a barrier or enclosure to prevent their escape into waters of the state.

Records: Aquaculture facilities are required to maintain records of production, purchases, and imports.

Exemptions: retail bait outlets, retail ornamental fish facilities, persons using privately controlled waters for noncommercial purposes, public aquariums or zoos, and portable retail fishing concessions--all are exempt from aquaculture registration.

Registering an Aquaculture Facility: Once you have an aquaculture facility built and ready to go, then you must register that facility with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (unless that facility is exempt--see above).  To register a facility, go here.

Starting an Aquaculture Facility: For information on starting and operating an aquaculture facility, contact 

Dan Vogler
President
Michigan Aquaculture Association
(231) 389-2514

For more information contact:

Ron Kinnunen
Extension Agent,
Upper Peninsula
Phone: (906) 228-4830
Fax: (906) 228-4572
E-mail: kinnunen@msue.msu.edu
MSU Extension
702 Chippewa Square
Marquette, MI 49855-4811

or

Donald Garling
Fisheries and Fish Culture Specialist Professor
Michigan State University
Cooperative Extension Service
Department of Fisheries and Wildlive
9A Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-1989