An Independent Evaluation of the Triploid Grass Carp Certification Program

An update and overview of the MICRA (Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association) funded evaluation of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's triploid grass carp certification program and state participation will be presented for the information that has been gathered to this point.  State and Federal agencies were contacted to gather and evaluate rules, regulations and policies that each would have for their grass carp programs.  This information includes how states conduct permitting, inspection, reporting and testing of triploid and diploid grass carp.  In addition to gathering regulatory and policy information, each state was queried as to what their rationale may be for their decision to allow/not allow stocking of diploid or triploid grass carp.  Commercial producers and shippers of grass carp were also queried, with several site visits conducted to observe how they operate and maintain separation and biosecurity of grass carp, including SOPs (standard operating procedures), BMPs (best management practices) and HCAAP (hazard analysis and critical control point) plans.  An overview of the stocking and distribution information that could be provided by the states for grass carp will also be summarized and discussed.