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Input is requested from the public with regard to proposed permitting framework related to aquaponics in California. Below is a background for reference. Further below is the proposed motion. Please submit comments using the form below by January 5th, 2015.

The State Aquaculture Development Committee (ADC), which is an advisory committee to the Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), met November 6, 2014 at the CDFW training center in Sacramento. Among the agenda items was a report by the chair of the Aquaponics Sub-committee (APS).

This APS report consisting of the draft aquaponic classifications accompanied by definitions of the classifications, and suggestions regarding deposition of aquatic organisms as either alive or dead, was first presented to the California Aquaculture Association CAA Board of Directors in 2013; to the ADC in 2013 and twice in 2014. In addition, to secure additional aquaponic input to the ADC process, conversations were held with California aquaponic practitioners at the national Aquaponics Association conference held in San Jose, CA in September 2014. Of concern to the APC, has been the absence of discussion or forward movement by the ADC on these issues that are so critical to the emerging aquaponics community and traditional aquaculture industry.

As background, in 2012, the APS was created as a subcommittee within the ADC and giving the charge to expand the APS membership to include aquaponic practitioners and additional agency personnel to address the handling of aquatic organisms that fall under the jurisdiction of the CDFW and used in aquaponic operations. Currently, aquaponic operations, which produce plant products using nitrogenous waste from aquatic organisms (primarily fish) in a recycle system, are not registered with either the CDFW or the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

The APS was specifically asked by the ADC to addressmeans to reduce the potential risks from the growing aquaponics community associated with“…uncontrolled movement of aquatic organisms into and across the State, and the excessive risk from disease and invasive speciesto both the environment and the commercial aquaculture industry.”

The APS composed of aquaponic practitioners, agency and academic personnel first met at UC Davis in March 2013. The subcommittee discussed an array of issues associated with its charge, but two issues became primary. These two outcomes were the need to identify classifications of aquaponic operations and fate of fish in the system (distributed dead or live); and the necessity of a registration mechanism for aquaponics with CDFW, potentially supported by a reasonable fee structure to defer the cost of a registration program. Later it was determined that discussions of fee structures was not in the prevue of the ADC, but would have to be addressed by authority held within the Fish and Game Commission.

The significance of the most recent APS report to the ADC was that it was accompanied by a motion to draft a letter of recommendation to the Director to accept the proposed classifications of aquaponics and aquaponic definitions, and recommendations for the fate of the fish in the system. The author of the motionthen suggested that the ADC immediately table the motion until the next ADC meeting to be held January 8, 2015. Following an explanation for this action, the ADC unanimously passed the motion to table.

Members of the APS were aware that there were concerns from individuals directed to titles, specific language in the definitions and fate of the fish, especially within the “non-commercial” category; however, these concerns were never expressed openly to the APC or within ADC since the report was first reported in 2013. The action to table the motion has elevates the aquaponic issue within the ADC priorities and provides time for additional input from the aquaponic community, aquaculturist and other interested parties.

CAA members should know that the ADC and the APS does not develop regulations. The APS is advisory to the ADC on aquaponic issues, and the ADC is an advisory committee to the Director of the CDFW.

Below is the body of the tabled motion. CAA is requesting additional input from stakeholders and the public regarding aquaponics and how it may interface with conventional aquaculture in the State of California. Comments will be combined with others gathered from other stakeholder groups. These comments and contributions will be forwarded to the APS and addressed by the full Aquaculture Development Committee. 

Please use the comment form below to provide input and/or suggested changes to the proposed motion as you see fit. The public comment period will close on January 5^th, 2015.

Motion: I move that a short Aquaponics Summary Report of Activities and Letter to the Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) be drafted by the Chair of the Aquaponics Subcommittee (APS); and that the letter consist of a set of recommendations as follows:

• Because aquaponics contains both an aquatic animal aquaculture component and a plant production component, the aquatic animal component of aquaponics falls under the jurisdiction of the CDFW; and the plant component may be covered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• All aquaponic operations in California should be registered with the CDFW.
• That the CDFW consider adopting the following classifications of Aquaponics with the purpose of establishing an aquaponics registration process; and that the Department works with the Fish and Game Commission to establish registration fees suitable to each aquaponic category.

1) Commercial Aquaponics: An aquaponics operation that sells Live Fish. All commercial aquaponic operations would require a CDFW registration (permit, license*) with associated fees based on fish production. For these purposes, the term fish covers all aquatic animals under the jurisdiction of CDFW. (*The department is to determine the proper terminology: registration, permit or license).

• Commercial: aquaponic operations could sell non-restricted species live.
• Commercial: aquaponic operations growing restricted species could only sell these restricted species if they are dead before leaving the aquaponics facility.

Caveats to Commercial Aquaponics  

• Farmers Markets: Aquaponic operations that sell live/dead fish at Farmers Markets would require a CDFW registration, with some form of adjusted fee rate applied.
• Cooperatives: Aquaponic operations that operate as a Cooperative and sells live/dead fish would require a CDFW registration, with some form of adjusted fee rate applied.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Aquaponic operations that operate as a CSA and sells live/dead fish would require a registration permit, with some form of adjusted fee rate applied.
• Educational Entity: Aquaponic operations that operate as an Educational Entity would require a registration permit; and to sell live/dead fish: a fee may or may not be required.

2) Non-Commercial Aquaponics: Aquaponic operation that does not sell fish, but produces fish that fall under the jurisdiction of the CDFW.

Caveats to Non-Commercial Aquaponics  

• Non-commercial aquaponics operation must follow the CDFW Code.
• Registration (permit, license) required for all non-commercial operations. This may require a minimal fee to cover cost of paperwork.
• Non-commercial aquaponics operation would be limited to non-restricted fish species.
• Personnel of non-commercial aquaponics operation may grow and consume the fish produced. If fish are given away, the fish must leave the property dead.