Michigan DNR

http://www.michigan....0364---,00.html

http://www.michigan....0364---,00.html

I just looked this up so I figured I would post it here.


Question
I would like to setup an aquarium with native fish; bluegill, perch, bullhead. Is this legal? Can I get a permit? what are the laws on natural aquariums.

Answer
You can keep any legally caught fish in the state, during the open season. So if you are out fishing and you catch a couple of bluegill, perch and a bass, you could take those fish home and put them in your aquarium. Make sure the bass is at least 14 inches. You could keep the perch and bluegill all year, because the season for these two species is open all year. But the bass, would have to be released by December 31st, because bass season is only open until December 31st each year. You would not be able to keep any species past the closed season. Permits are only issued to places like Nature Centers, Schools etc, that actually teach children about the fish of Michigan. You can have an aquarium, but you can not have any species during the closed season in your possession.

Do you have a source for this? If so, please post.

Do you have a source for this? If so, please post.

Drew, I've seen that same Q&A series on the DNR site.
Here is a link to this:
http://midnr.custhel...f...nZT0x&p_li=
It's obviously a bit outdated.

I talked to a representative for NY just a couple years back and pretty much got the same answer.

I just looked this up so I figured I would post it here.
Question
I would like to setup an aquarium with native fish; bluegill, perch, bullhead. Is this legal? Can I get a permit? what are the laws on natural aquariums.

Answer
You can keep any legally caught fish in the state, during the open season. So if you are out fishing and you catch a couple of bluegill, perch and a bass, you could take those fish home and put them in your aquarium. Make sure the bass is at least 14 inches. You could keep the perch and bluegill all year, because the season for these two species is open all year. But the bass, would have to be released by December 31st, because bass season is only open until December 31st each year. You would not be able to keep any species past the closed season. Permits are only issued to places like Nature Centers, Schools etc, that actually teach children about the fish of Michigan. You can have an aquarium, but you can not have any species during the closed season in your possession.

Yup thats the law you can not have a game fish out of season without a permit... Should be noted you also can not release a fish so I think some crack smoking was involved in the response to that. Also it is possible for individuals to get permits they are not only given to Nature centers and schools.

Yup thats the law you can not have a game fish out of season without a permit... Should be noted you also can not release a fish so I think some crack smoking was involved in the response to that. Also it is possible for individuals to get permits they are not only given to Nature centers and schools.

That is certainly true. I have TWO collection and research permits myself just for 2008(one original, and a second updated after the potential for greenside darters in my area became apparent).
I also had one for last year, although it was more limited in scope. The permit process could not be easier. I talked directly to the DNR last year before my initial application(and again this year when I submitted the required yearly synopsis) and from what I can tell, it would not be much if any more difficult to get a permit to keep game fish, although my tank situation is such that I have no desire to do so.

Yup thats the law you can not have a game fish out of season without a permit... Should be noted you also can not release a fish so I think some crack smoking was involved in the response to that. Also it is possible for individuals to get permits they are not only given to Nature centers and schools.

Good point, I would never release fish back into the ecosystem, but that is a good note to have listed here.

Ok, can I ask excluding game fish, say you set up a minnow trap and you have several pairs of darters , blacknose dace , tadpole madtoms and you take them home and they reproduce. do you know what sort of permit is needed to keep the f2s or are you even permitted so long as the species is not threatened or endangered

Although I have never seen it in writing, juscuz's description is consistent with my conversations with Michigan DNR in the past. Things have become much more complicated with the onset of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in the state, and much more rigorous rules have been established regarding the movement of live fish in the state. You can find a lot of information at michigan.gov/dnr under the fishing header.

As mentioned above, the DNR Fisheries staff are pretty easy to talk to, and will provide straight answers to your questions. Remember, their mission is related to protecting the fisheries resource, particularily game fish since that is where their funding comes from. If you have questions, give them a call at the numbers on the website.

As far as comercial operations, both the DNR and Department of Agriculture are involved in the permitting. Again, it pays to take the time to talk to the state officials before you begin collecting or rearing for sale. Threatend and endangered are not the only considerations. There is probably a way to do it, but there may be some certifications involved.

The following is the response I got from the DNR regarding keeping non-game michigan native fish in a home aquarium. I did not find this information anywhere else, so I hope it is helpful!

In response to my first email, asking what I need to do to keep non-game fish legally:
Thanks for the question. It is legal to keep Michigan fish that do not have season closures or size limits in an aquarium under a recreational fishing license. This would include species such as bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, crappie, rock bass, as well as darters and other minnows you specifically mentioned. The issue is that after the VHS fish virus was found in Michigan it became illegal in 2006 to transport the water that the fish are in. Therefore there is no way to legally move the fish from the location of capture to your home aquarium under a recreational fishing license. That said you can apply for a scientific collector's permit to do so. The permit is free and will allow you to transport the fish with instructions for water disposal once you reach home. The permit can be applied for online at www.michigan.gov/scientificcollectorspermit When applying for the permit under "study plan" just tell me what you want to do. Keep in mind that a permit will most likely be issued for personal possession and enjoyment in a home aquarium but it will not be issued for any type of commercial venture (raising and selling the fish). Remember it is all about the act of transporting the live fish from point A to B. Due to the fish virus VHS it is illegal to transport the live fish and water from the site of capture to the location of the aquarium. Once at home it is still legal to have native species of fish that do not have any season or size limit restrictions in an aquarium provided the owner has a valid fishing license and the species of fish are not protected in Michigan as threatened or endangered.

In response to my asking what to do with F1 fish or fish that have been brought home and are not getting along:
In all likelihood you are not going to have to deal with that because wild fish do not act like ornamental fish in an aquarium setting. Mating is unlikely. If it does occur any unwanted fish should be euthanized. This would also apply to any fish collected from the wild that for some reason or another are no longer wanted. Due to possible disease concerns once collected they should not be released back to the wild.

Thomas M. Goniea, Biologist
DNR - Fisheries Division
517-373-7341
gonieat@michigan.gov

The following is the response I got from the DNR regarding keeping non-game michigan native fish in a home aquarium. I did not find this information anywhere else, so I hope it is helpful!

In response to my first email, asking what I need to do to keep non-game fish legally:
Thanks for the question. It is legal to keep Michigan fish that do not have season closures or size limits in an aquarium under a recreational fishing license. This would include species such as bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, crappie, rock bass, as well as darters and other minnows you specifically mentioned. The issue is that after the VHS fish virus was found in Michigan it became illegal in 2006 to transport the water that the fish are in. Therefore there is no way to legally move the fish from the location of capture to your home aquarium under a recreational fishing license. That said you can apply for a scientific collector's permit to do so. The permit is free and will allow you to transport the fish with instructions for water disposal once you reach home. The permit can be applied for online at www.michigan.gov/scientificcollectorspermit When applying for the permit under "study plan" just tell me what you want to do. Keep in mind that a permit will most likely be issued for personal possession and enjoyment in a home aquarium but it will not be issued for any type of commercial venture (raising and selling the fish). Remember it is all about the act of transporting the live fish from point A to B. Due to the fish virus VHS it is illegal to transport the live fish and water from the site of capture to the location of the aquarium. Once at home it is still legal to have native species of fish that do not have any season or size limit restrictions in an aquarium provided the owner has a valid fishing license and the species of fish are not protected in Michigan as threatened or endangered.

In response to my asking what to do with F1 fish or fish that have been brought home and are not getting along:
In all likelihood you are not going to have to deal with that because wild fish do not act like ornamental fish in an aquarium setting. Mating is unlikely. If it does occur any unwanted fish should be euthanized. This would also apply to any fish collected from the wild that for some reason or another are no longer wanted. Due to possible disease concerns once collected they should not be released back to the wild.

Thomas M. Goniea, Biologist
DNR - Fisheries Division
517-373-7341
gonieat@michigan.gov

What if you bring your own water from home and acclimate the fish on site?

I was wondering that myself, but I would assume that your water from home becomes "the water the fish is in" once you place the fish into it.