Aquaculture Licencing for Aquaponics activites - Do I need one.

[Murray]

I have had communications from a person who appears to be under the impression that I, and by extension, others that keep fish in tanks at home are breaking the law and are "environmental criminals"

In brief, the keeping of fish at home for personal use does not require a licence in Queensland, provided the fish are kept in tanks above the 1:100 flood line and the tank/s are covered with a roof that is impervious to rain.
Your tank/s floor area should not exceed 50 sqm. see part 2:1 (b) Most home systems would not even make 4 sqm of tank area let alone 50.

There are other conditions that can and are easily complied with by the home Aquaponics person.

Below is a link that has a document re Self Assessment to see if you should apply for an Aquaculture Licence in Queensland.

I recommend that all Aquaponics persons living in Queensland download and print the document. Read it and be at ease that you are complying. I would be very surprised if any were not complying.

Some of you may not have a rain proof roof over your systems. You may need to attend to that at your earliest convenience.

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/extra/pdf...b/Aqua_SAC.pdf

Those that live in other states, please check this out for your state and post the results here please. It is important that we keep informed.

NSW
VIC,
SA,
WA,
NT
and Tas.

[Dufflight]

Rain proof roof for the fish tank. Are they worried that the fish will get wet or that the tank can over flow and the fish would escape. And maybe flip flop themselves the 15km to the nearest river.

[Murray]

Hi Duff,
The logic is ,.... fish that are not strictly indigenous to your particular area may escape if there is big rain and some local flooding that would allow the non indigenous fish to escape to the nearest local waterway.
Which is fair enough I reckon, that could actually happen. We have seen local flooding like that here just recently.

There has to be a blanket rule for everyone I guess, especially for a self assessment situation.

[anniefish]

Hi Murray,


Just asking about theses two points-
1. Introduction
1.1 This code is prepared under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (IPA) and the Fisheries Act 19941. Under IPA, making a material change in use of premises for the purpose of conducting aquaculture activities is regarded as ‘development’.

2.1 This code is relevant to assessing a material change of use of premises against the Fisheries Act 1994 if making the material change of use is for aquaculture and if the change of use of premises does not cause the discharge of waste into Queensland waters and the aquaculture3:-


does this mean if you are building a new system in a new premises you don't have to comply?


3. Meaning of terms
3.1 For the purposes of applying this code and determining whether development is self-assessable—
(a) ‘Aquaculture’, as defined in, the Fisheries Act 1994, means the cultivation of live fisheries resources for sale other than in circumstances prescribed under a regulation.


Does this mean we don't have to comply if we don't sell fish?

I'm not fluent in gobbledegook, maybe someone can translate?

Annie

[Murray]

Hi Anniefish,
My understanding is that you don't have to comply, but other conditions further down in the document do apply, like the max floor area of 50 sqm and the roof requirement etc.

Any one exemption does not let you out of any supplementary condition.

I have a contact in the Department. I will give him a call today for a clarification.

[aussieap]

I can only speak for Queensland. The chap Murray is referring to is the 'go to' guy at DPI Fisheries in Qld regarding Aquaponics. He is very supportive of the concept and spoke at the conference earlier this week. The reason behind the new legislation is NOT to exclude ppl. It is simply to have a set of standard guidelines to give ppl looking at home ap a framework to go by.

It is not particularly onerous and quite generous in allowing 50 sq mtrs of fish tank production space. This number was chosen so ppl could do a full commercial trial without jumping thru all the regulatory hoops that come with a full on commercial ap business. The self assessment here is really an olive branch and money saver to ppl wanting to do systems at home without the whole fish licensing etc. Yes there are points about tank covers/under roof etc but they are common sense things we do anyway.

I am not one to stick up for govt departments believe me. However the Qld policy is to be SUPPORTIVE of ppl with systems at home. We simply can't have more than 50 sq mtrs of fish tank space (which must be covered.)

[Murray]

Yes, I agree, the regulations as they stand are excellent for home growers. Just some sensible safeguards that are not to hard to comply with.

[Murray]

I spoke to a DPI officer today re bringing some trout into Qld for home use. It is only permitted for those with a aquaculture license, so that pretty much rules them out in QLD for home use.

[anniefish]

BU%%ER!!


Annie

[fishfood]

Murray when the time comes i shore there's some ''silver perch '' around that looks like trout i bet the department rep looking in your tank wouldn't know
[ just joking]