Sturgeon Propagation License Application Process

If your facility is currently in operation under a fish propagation license:

1. Sturgeon Propagation Permit

Submit a Sturgeon Propagation Permit Application (pdf) to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The application describes the location of your facility, the water supply, the species and number of sturgeon you plan to raise, and the type of operation. The permit fee of $3573.00 must accompany this application; this fee will also cover the cost of renewing your fish propagation license.

2. Site Inspection

Once your application has been reviewed, the District Fish Biologist and a Department fish health specialist will contact you to make an appointment to inspect your facility. The purpose of the visit will be to familiarize the biologist with the location and operation of your facility, to review the adequacy of your fish screens and avian exclosures to prevent the escape of fish from your facility and to review your disease control mechanisms; the main concern is for the protection of wild fish resources in nearby streams. They may recommend denying the license until adequate screening or disease control measures are in place.

3. Application Approval

If the application is approved, you will be issued a Fish Propagation License and a Sturgeon Propagation Permit. The license and permit must be renewed by you each calendar year. The cost of a renewal is $3,573.00

If the application is denied, the applicant is notified in writing of the reasons for the denial.

If you are requesting to license a new or not yet built facility:

1. Sturgeon Propagation Permit

Submit a Sturgeon Propagation Permit Application (pdf) to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The application describes the location of your facility, the water supply, the species and number of fish you plan to raise, and the type of operation. The permit fee of $3,573.00 must accompany this application; this fee will also cover the cost of a fish propagation license.

2. Water Rights

Your application must be accompanied by a copy of the Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD) water right certificate or a ground water permit which specifically states on the certificate that the water is being used for fish culture/propagation activity. Contact the WRD to determine if water rights are required for your fish culture operation.

3. Pollution Discharge

If you plan on raising more than 20,000 pounds of sturgeon annually at your facility, your application must be accompanied by a copy of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 300J Waste Discharge Permit.

4. Land Use Approval

Your application must be accompanied by a Fish Propagation Planning Approval (pdf) form completed by the County Land Use Planning Office in the county where your facility is located.

5. Application Review

Once the application form has been received, it is reviewed by Fish Propagation staff. If the species you intend to raise is not native to Oregon, the application may be denied based on the list of prohibited species in OAR 635-056-0000, The Importation, Possession, Confinement, Transportation and Sale of Nonnative Wildlife.

If the species to be raised is not native to the watershed in which your facility is located, the application is also reviewed by Recreational Fisheries staff, and by the local District Fish Biologist. The application may be denied if the species is not already present in the watershed or if it poses a significant risk to native species.

6. Operational Plan

Before your permit can be issued, you will need to develop a propagation facility operational plan in consultation with the Department as described in OAR 635-007-0730 (pdf), including engineering designs of the facility drawn to scale, and detailed written descriptions of both the facility and its operations.

7. Fish Population Studies

Depending on the species reared, the size of your operation and the risk of fish escaping from your facility, the Department may require you to develop and conduct fish population studies sufficient to document the preconstruction status of fish populations in the waterway affected by your facility.

8. Site Inspection

Once your application has been reviewed, the District Fish Biologist and a Department fish health specialist will contact you to make an appointment to inspect your facility. The purpose of the visit will be to familiarize the biologist with the location and operation of your facility, to review the adequacy of your fish screens and avian exclosures to prevent the escape of fish from your facility and to review your disease control mechanisms; the main concern is for the protection of wild fish resources in nearby streams. They may recommend denying the license until adequate screening or disease control measures are in place.

9. Application Approval

If the application is approved, you will be issued a Sturgeon Propagation Permit. This is an annual permit, which you must renew each calendar year. The cost of a renewal is $3,573.00

If the application is denied, the applicant is notified in writing of the reasons for the denial.

10. Fish Transport Permit

You must obtain a Fish Transport Permit before transporting live fish or eggs to or from your facility. Separate transport permits are required for each group and time fish are transported to or from this facility. There is a $14 fee for this permit.

Other permits you may need:

Water Storage Permit

If your planned fish culture operation includes a reservoir, you will need to apply to the WRD for a water storage permit. If the reservoir stores more than 9.2 acre feet of water or has a dam greater than 10 feet in height you will need the Application to Store Water (pdf).

If the reservoir stores less than 9.2 acre feet or the dam is less than 10 feet in height you will need the Alternate Application to Store Water (pdf).