(4) Any violation of, or failure to comply with, Title 23A, the Wildlife Resources Code of Utah, this rule, or any specific requirement contained in a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this rule may be grounds for suspension of the certificate or denial of future certificates, as determined by the division.R657-59b-2. Definitions.
(1)(a) "Aquaculture product" means privately purchased, domestically produced aquatic
organisms, or their gametes.
(b) "Aquaculture product" does not mean aquatic wildlife obtained from the wild, aquatic wildlife produced by the state or federally owned aquaculture facilities, or ornamental aquatic animal species.
(2) "Aquaponics facility" means a facility that combines fish and plant culture for a non-commercial purpose where:
(a) all water flowing into or through the facility is completely isolated from any other water source via a self-contained water transport system or there is no risk that water and waste discharged from the facility can enter a public waterway or waterbody; (b) all water and waste flowing from the facility is discharged into a permitted sewer or septic system;
(c) the aquatic animals held within the facility are used for non-commercial purposes only;
(d) no aquatic animals or their gametes are transported from the facility alive; and
(e) the primary use of the facility is for food production and not for the general display of fish in aquaria.
(3)(a) "Event tank" means a tank, container, or vessel used to hold fish during a short-term fishing event.
(b) "Event tank" does not mean a tank, container, or vessel that is mounted to a vehicle and used to transport fish to a destination.
(4) "Institutional aquaculture" means aquaculture engaged in by a school, college, university, or other educational program, or public agency other than the division.
(5) "Lake" means a naturally formed, perennial or intermittent, non-flowing waterbody that collects and keeps water in quantity for use
(6) "Natural stream channel" means a body of water that maintains continuous, seasonal or potential flow, as determined by the division.
(7)(a) "Ornamental aquatic animal species" means any species of fish, mollusk, or crustacean that is cultured for display and then sold in the United States' aquarium industry for display.
(b) "Ornamental aquatic animal species" does not include:
(i) fresh water;
(A) sport fish - aquatic animal species regulated for angling or harvest for recreation or sport;
(B) baitfish - aquatic animal species authorized for use as bait in Section R657-13-12, or any other species used by anglers as bait in sporting fishing;
(C) food fish - aquatic animal species cultured or harvested from the wild for human consumption; or
(D) native species; or
(ii) aquatic animals and marine aquatic animals prohibited for importation or possession by any state, federal, or local law; or
(iii) aquatic animals and marine aquatic animals listed as prohibited or controlled in Sections R657-3-22 and R657-3-23.
(8) "Private fish pond" means a standing body of water or any fish culture system which:
(a) is not located on a natural lake, natural flowing stream, or reservoir constructed on a natural
stream channel;
(b) is contained entirely on privately owned land; and
(c) is used for holding or rearing fish for a private, non-commercial purpose.
(9) "Reservoir" means an artificially constructed, non-flowing waterbody that is used to collect and keep water in quantity for use built by damming a natural stream channel.
(10) "Short-term fishing event" means any event where:
(a) privately acquired fish are held or confined for a period not to exceed ten days in a temporary event tank;
(b) for the purposes of providing a recreational opportunity; and
(c) no fee is charged as a requirement to fish.
R657-59b-3. Aquaculture Facility Requirements.
(1) An aquaculture facility that possesses a valid license from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food may stock aquatic wildlife for short-term fishing events in Utah, provided:
(a)(i) The purchaser of the aquatic wildlife possesses a valid short-term fishing event certificate of registration as issued by the division; or
(ii) the species being stocked meets the criteria where a certificate of registration is not required as described in Section R657-59a-4;
(b) Any triploid aquaculture product that are stocked originate from a lot that has been tested and meet the requirements specified in Subsection R657-59a-5(3); and
(c) The aquaculture facility provides the purchaser of any triploid fish a copy of the letter issued by the division certifying that the stocked fish originated from a lot that meets the requirements specified in Subsection R657-59a-5(3[).]); and (d) Any aquaculture product that originates from an aquaculture facility that have New Zealand mud snails must be stocked in accordance to the procedures described in Section R657-59a-10. (2) The division may collect aquatic wildlife at short-term fishing events to verify that the species and ploidy meet the requirements of Rule R657-59a. (3)(i) It is unlawful for an aquaculture facility to stock aquatic wildlife that violates the terms of Rule R657-59b or other rules established under Title 23A, the Wildlife Resources Code of Utah, and the Utah Wildlife Board.
(ii) Violation of this rule may result in a violation of Sections 23A-5-305 and 4-37-6.
KEY: wildlife, aquaculture, fish
Date of Last Change: 2026[November 21, 2023] Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23A-9-305; 23A-9-203
!--dar--
