One of the primary missions of the Service is to protect U.S. citizens, and our nation’s natural resources. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) partners with the aquaculture industry to safeguard the natural fisheries resources of the United States through it’s Title 50 Salmonid Fish Import Program. The Service implements regulations to ensure that only healthy trout and salmon are imported into the United States.
The Lacey Act of 1900 is the United Sates law that regulates the trafficking in illegal wildlife. One part of the law covers the importation of wildlife deemed a threat to the wildlife of the United States. Per 50 C.F.R. § 16.3, “Any importation or transportation of live wildlife or eggs thereof, or dead fish or eggs or salmonids of the fish family Salmonidae into the United States or its territories or possessions is deemed to be injurious or potentially injurious to the health and welfare of human beings, to the interest of forestry, agriculture, and horticulture, and to the welfare and survival of the wildlife or wildlife resources of the United States…”
To expedite the import of healthy salmon and trout into the United States, the Service has established a step-wise process to efficiently certify Salmonid importations. The steps can be found at the following website: https://www.fws.gov/service/steps-importing-salmonids-united-states-america. The new process, along with its new forms, database and webpage, was created after consultation with partners. As a result of these developments, the T50 Program has quadrupled Salmonid fish imports without increasing health risk to natural resources. In addition, processes to streamline approval of Certified Signing Officials has made endorsing them easier and more effective. As a result, many more domestic and international Officials have been approved than in the recent past.
In 2022, the T50 Program has authorized 20 shipments for approximately 4.3 million fish and eggs (4 species, 3 countries). During the same period, six new individuals have applied to be a Signing Official from 3 new counties. The program now endorses 25 officials from 8 counties.
Support and input from the aquaculture industry are essential for the success of the T50 program and for the protection of our nation’s natural resources and to the aquaculture industry. The Service continues to strive to improve the T50 program in the future in concert with our partners and adapt to emerging importation needs.