The regulation of aquaculture

This bill also prohibits DNR from promulgating rules that require DNR, before it issues a natural water body permit, to hold a hearing or provide notice that it will not hold a hearing. In addition, the bill requires DNR to post notice of every application for a natural water body permit on DNR's Internet Web site.

Wastewater discharge permits Current law generally prohibits a person from discharging pollutants into the surface water or groundwater without a wastewater discharge permit from DNR.

The law requires persons required to have permits, other than persons who operate livestock farms, to pay an annual wastewater discharge fee based in part on the amount of pollutants discharged. The fees are deposited into the general fund.

This bill exempts persons who operate fish farms from the wastewater discharge fee.

The bill also requires DNR to include, in wastewater discharge permits for fish farms that produce more than 100,000 pounds of fish per year, requirements that are based on, and are not more stringent than, requirements in a specified regulation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency applicable to those fish farms.

Record-keeping Current law requires a person who operates a fish farm to keep records on purchases, sales, and production of fish and fish eggs and any other records required by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

This bill provides that a person who operates a fish farm is not required to keep records on the sale of fish to an individual for the individual's personal use.

Importing fish Current law generally requires a person who brings fish or fish eggs into this state for the purpose of introduction into lakes or streams, of use as bait, or of rearing in a fish farm without an annual permit issued by DATCP.

This bill exempts a person bringing fish or fish eggs from a fish farm in another state to a fish farm in this state from the requirement to have an importation permit if the person has a fish health certificate that covers the fish or fish eggs and that complies with DATCP's rules on fish health certificates.

Current law exempts DNR from the requirement to have a permit from DATCP to bring fish into this state. This bill eliminates that exemption.