APHIS Services for the Aquaculture Industry

Veterinary Services
Wildlife Services

July 2000

Through its field force, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides agricultural producers with a broad range of cooperative programs for protecting the health and productivity of animals and plants. Aquaculture, the managed production of aquatic plants and animals, continues to grow as a major agribusiness enterprise.

APHIS programs currently serve important aspects of both plant and animal aquaculture, especially involving disease, pest prevention, and wildlife damage management. APHIS has also become involved in facilitating the import and export of aquacultural products because of increased global trade. The following paragraphs outline APHIS services in each of these areas.

Services for Aquatic Plant Protection

Preventing the importation and dissemination of plant pests and diseases and undesirable aquatic weeds into and throughout the United States
Controlling undesirable aquatic plants in the United States
Helping to develop pest and disease control methodology, including the use of biocontrol organisms

For more information about aquatic plant control programs, contact APHIS' Plant Protection and Quarantine program at (301) 734-5708.

Aquatic Animal Health Activities

Providing certain diagnostic assistance to aquaculture producers experiencing health problems in their products
Working with the U.S. Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service, and members the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA) to disseminate information and outline agency roles to best meet the aquaculture industry's animal health needs
Endorsing animal health certifications for the exportation of live aquatic species and their products
Developing aquatic animal health monitoring and surveillance programs

For more information about aquatic animal health services, contact APHIS' Veterinary Services program at (301) 734-6188.

Veterinary Biologics for Fish

Licensing domestic manufacturers of veterinary biologics to ensure that these products are pure, safe, potent, and effective
Testing fish biologics at APHIS' National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, IA
Issuing import permits for veterinary biologics produced in other countries
Inspecting veterinary biologics production facilities, methods, and records
Developing test methods, as well as references and reagents, and overseeing prelicensing field trials
Establishing and enforcing regulations for interstate movement of veterinary biologics
Issuing documents to meet foreign countries' requirements for accepting export shipments of veterinary biologics produced by U.S. manufacturers
Issuing permits for the importation of organisms and vectors used for master seed and biologics research
Licensing veterinary biologics for the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of diseases of aquatic animals
Investigating consumer complaints regarding biologics used in aquaculture

For more information about veterinary biologics programs or available products, contact APHIS' NVSL at (525) 232-5785. The Veterinary Biologics Consumer Information Hotline number is (800) 752-6255.

Wildlife Damage Management Assistance and Activities

Recommending and/or providing wildlife exclusion or scaring devices
Conducting winter cormorant population censuses
Conducting surveys of fish-eating birds to determine population distribution and movements
Conducting wildlife food-habits studies
Conducting ecological and behavioral studies on fish-eating birds
Working onsite with producers to set up integrated control programs to reduce fish losses from birds and other wildlife
Assisting with migratory bird depredation permit applications
Conducting onsite workshops and seminars on bird control
Developing factsheets, videos, and other publications on control and management of wildlife damage
Working with members of the JSA to define agency roles and industry needs for protection of aquaculture products from wildlife damage
Working with FWS and State wildlife agencies to jointly develop bird damage-management plans to protect aquaculture products while ensuring the continued viability of bird populations

For more information about bird depredation control, contact APHIS' Wildlife Services program at (301) 734-7921.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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