In Michigan, fish farming is officially called aquaculture and is legally classified as an agricultural enterprise. Because it involves water usage and livestock, it is regulated by multiple state agencies to ensure environmental safety and animal health.
Here is the breakdown of who to call and the regulations you’ll need to follow.
1. Key Departments to Contact
MDARD (Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development)
Primary Role: Licensing and Fish Health.
MDARD is your main point of contact. They handle the mandatory registration for all commercial aquaculture facilities.
- What they do: Oversee the Aquaculture Development Act, manage the “Approved Species List,” and handle disease testing and transport permits.
- Contact: Animal Industry Division at 517-284-5685.
MDNR (Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources)
Primary Role: Resource Protection and Public Water.
You must contact the MDNR if your farm interacts with public waters or if you plan to stock fish in public lakes/streams.
- What they do: Issue “Private Stocking Permits” and oversee the protection of wild fish populations from escapement.
- Contact: Fisheries Division at 517-284-5830.
EGLE (Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy)
Primary Role: Water Quality and Discharge.
If your farm discharges water back into a river or the ground, you may need an environmental permit.
- What they do: Issue NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits for facilities that produce over a certain volume of fish or discharge into state waters.
- Contact: Water Resources Division at 517-284-5567.
2. Essential Regulations
To operate legally, you must navigate several specific state laws:
- The Approved Species List: You cannot just farm any fish. Michigan has a strict list of approved species (like Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, and Tilapia). Rearing a species not on this list requires a special “Research Permit.”
- Facility Registration: Under the Michigan Aquaculture Development Act (Act 199), you must register your facility annually with MDARD.
- Exemption: If you are only raising fish for a home aquarium (ornamental) or a small private pond for non-commercial use, you are generally exempt from registration.
- Disease Testing: Before moving or selling fish, they must often be certified “disease-free” by a qualified veterinarian or lab to prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS).
- Water Withdrawal: If you plan to pump more than 70 gallons per minute (roughly 100,000 gallons per day), you must register your withdrawal with EGLE using their online Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool.
- Site Selection: Check the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs) for aquaculture. These provide “Right to Farm” protection against nuisance complaints if you follow the state’s guidelines for odors, noise, and waste.
- Contact an Expert: Reach out to the Michigan Sea Grant or MSU Extension. They provide free technical assistance to help you design your system (recirculating tanks vs. ponds).
- Pre-Application Meeting: Call MDARD and ask for a “pre-application meeting.” They can often get representatives from EGLE and MDNR on the same call to tell you exactly which permits your specific site will need.