Triploid Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program

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

• Service for natural resource agencies .
• Authorized by Congress January 1995.
• Provides assurance ..that shipments of triploid
  grass carp contain no diploids within the limits
  of the program.

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Program Overview

• General acceptance by State officials.
• Fee for service program.
• 300 inspections per year.
• 37 States participate.
• 13 States do not.

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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.

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Program History

• Introduced in 1963 as possible means to control
  aquatic vegetation.
• 1979 - Research began to produce infertile
  triploid grass carp in Stuttgart, AR (FFEL).
• 1981 - Grass carp ploidy checks began at FFEL to
  help local farmers and university researchers.

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Program History

• 1986 - R. C. Wattendorf uses an automated
  particle sizer to differentiate diploid and
  triploid blood cells.
• Today - his methods have become the standard.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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Standards (Collection of Fees)

• Fee for failures will accelerate during a single
  calendar year.
• Type-A 1st100..5th500.
• 3rd failureletter of concern issued to the
  producer.
• 5th failureMost likely services will cease.
• Type-BSame as A with no letters issued.

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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 DOAS.
• Above the standard 120-fish samplecost increases
  to(1.00) per fish shipped plus travel.

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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
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Channelizer Monitor
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Freq
Diploid
Triploid
Channel
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Channelizer Monitor
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Pre- Inspection
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
120 fish selected
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Blood Sampling
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
Blood Sampling
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Pending Ploidy Check
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U.S Fish and Wildlife Service
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Standards Are On The Web

• http//southeast.fws.gov/fisheries/
• http//warmsprings.fws.gov/FishHealth/frgrain2.htm
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