VS Aquaculture Program, Team, and APHIS Services for the Aquaculture Industry

• 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 use of biocontrol organisms

For more information about aquatic plant control programs, contact the APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine program at (301) 851-2224.

• The current operational plan for the APHIS Aquaculture Program can be found here.
• To contact the APHIS Aquaculture Team please email - VS.SPRS.ASAAHC.Aqua@aphis.usda.gov

• 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
• 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  members of the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture 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 at (301) 851-4004.

• Providing certain diagnostic assistance to aquaculture producers experiencing health problems in their products.
• Working with the 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 of 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 Veterinary Services at (301) 851-3300.

• Licensing domestic manufacturers of veterinary biologics to ensure that these products are pure, safe, potent, and effective.
• Testing fish biologics at APHIS' Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB)
• 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 pre-licensing 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 the APHIS VS Center for Veterinary Biologics at (515) 232-5785. The Veterinary Biologics Consumer Information Hotline number is (515) 232-5789 or (800) 752-6255.

Services for aquatic animal trade and movement (import/export)

• National Import and Export Services
• APHIS approved labs for export testing
• Organisms and Vectors 

Laboratory and Information Services

• National Veterinary Reference Laboratory (NVSL)
• APHIS approved laboratories for export testing
• NAHLN

Services for Pathogen Reporting

• NAHRS
• NLRAD

Services for Veterinary Accreditation

• NVAP

USDA Services for the Aquaculture Industry Sectors 

• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) 
  The  Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table.
  
  
•  Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
  The Food Safety Inspection Services protects the public’s health by ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and processed egg products.

• Joint Subcommittee Aquaculture