Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Warm Springs Center

PURPOSE? Service for natural resource agencies. Authorized by Congress January Provides assurance …..that shipments of triploid grass carp contain no diploids within the limits of the program. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Program Overview General acceptance by State officials. Fee for service program. 300 inspections per year. 37 States participate. 13 States do not. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Program Overview USFWS does not act as an enforcement agency. Provides the service to observe, record, and report. Participation is completely voluntary. State agencies are responsible for enforcing there own regulations. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Program History Introduced in 1963 as possible means to control aquatic vegetation Research began to produce infertile triploid grass carp in Stuttgart, AR (FFEL) Grass carp ploidy checks began at FFEL to help local farmers and university researchers. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Program History R. C. Wattendorf uses an automated particle sizer to differentiate diploid and triploid blood cells. Today - his methods have become the standard. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Program Standards Standards for Triploid Fish Inspectors Standards for Grass Carp Producers Checklist for Inspectors and Triploid Grass Carp Producers Standards for Collection of Fees U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) Checklist for Inspection. Minimum of 1500 fish to be shipped. Will require 120 randomly selected fish. Ensure that diploid controls represent the lots to be certified. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

What are Standards? Established in 1985-significant numbers of triploid grass carp first sold by producers. Guidelines developed from work experience. Ideas from private producers and states. Provides consistency and fairness. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) View the fish to be certified. Verify that the fish are isolated from production ponds. Reduces the chance of mixing triploids and diploids. Numbers of fish are appropriate for the orders to be certified. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) Channelize (min) every tenth fish during the inspection. Questionable monitor readings will also be channelized. Questionable data from channelization will be considered non-triploid. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) The observance by Inspector of any non-triploid fish will FAIL the Inspection. No Certification can be done until another inspection is rescheduled. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) Asian tapeworm examination, Inspectors will report their on-site findings. Contact the receiving State's representative within 24-hours. The USFWS Inspector will retain the original Certification report. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) Copies of the Inspection/Certification will distributed as follows: (1) Producer (day of inspection). (2) State Agencies (copy by USFWS) (3) USFWS Regional Accounting U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Inspectors) Collect the appropriate fee. USFWS provides quality control assurances: (1) Employee training. (2) Retain records and maintain a transaction database. (3) Maintain a file on State grass carp regulations. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) Participation is voluntary. Examine the checklist of requirements. All grass carp tested prior to the inspection. Inspection consists of a retesting 120 individuals, randomly selected from the identified lot of alleged 100 % triploid grass carp. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) Fully operational particle sizer with channelizer, and trained personnel available to process fish. Diploid control fish come from the same site, and same relative age/size as the group of fish to be certified. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) Option, 2.8 micron polystyrene beads may be used as a control standard. Triploid grass carp held in units at least 100-ft. away from production ponds. The containment units with clear water for viewing. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) If a diploid is found during testing, the lot FAILS Certification. All fish must be retested. Producers must sell or ship the certified fish within four working days. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) If fish are not sold or shipped within the four day limit, fish must be re-certified to retain USFWS certification. Once certified, no additional fish can be added to an identified lot of triploid grass carp. State Officials, will be notified by phone within 24 hours. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) The number of fish shipped, the source, destination, date/time of arrival, and the dealer or hauler will be reported. Written documentation will then be sent by mail or fax. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) No diagnostic services-- Asian tapeworms check if required. Other visual anomalies will not be the responsibility of the Inspector. If such work is desired, they should contact fish veterinarian or a fish health specialist. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Producers) Grass Carp Producers will retain records of certification transactions for transport. Producers are obligated to comply with laws, regulations, and guidelines of the States. Fees for service are collected by check. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Check List) Number of fish expected to be shipped. Two diploid grass carp control fish, option, 2.8 micron polystyrene beads. Grass carp have been pre-tested for ploidy and segregated into isolated containment units (vat/ tank). Channelizer and Coulter Counter will be in acceptable working order. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Collection of Fees) January 1, 2005 the standard fee is ($.34) per fish shipped plus travel costs. Checks are made payable to USFWS. If No certificate is issued, then failure fees apply plus travel costs. Type-A Failure-(a true failure). Type-B Failure -(non-functional equipment). U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Collection of Fees) Fee for failures will accelerate during a single calendar year. Type-A –1 st =$100…..5 th =$ rd failure—letter of concern issued to the producer. 5 th failure—Most likely services will cease. Type-B—Same as “A” with no letters issued. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards (Collection of Fees) Inspection for less than 1500, fee is $50.00 or.34 X number of fish shipped which ever is greater plus travel. Checks are held for 7 days to allow for adjustments. No credit for DOA’S. Above the standard 120-fish sample—cost increases to($1.00) per fish shipped plus travel. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Channelizer Monitor Freq Channel Diploid Triploid

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Channelizer Monitor

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Pre- Inspection

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service 120 fish selected

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Blood Sampling

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Blood Sampling

Pending Ploidy Check

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

Standards Are On The Web U.S Fish and Wildlife Service