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Standards for Triploid Grass Carp Inspectors
Revised January 2009
- The USFWS Inspector, before confirmation of an Inspection date, will ask the Producer whether the conditions, as specified in the Checklist for Inspection (i.e., available diploid controls, working Coulter Counter, etc.) will be met.
- The USFWS Inspector will provide Inspection services for a minimum of 1500 fish to be shipped, within six calendar days, from isolated groups of fish being maintained within a containment unit, or units (tank/vat/etc.). Inspection requests by the Producer for groups of fish of less than 1500 will only be performed when agreed upon by the USFWS Inspector, prior to the inspection trip.
- The Inspector will require that the sample size, for fish to be taken from the isolated group of grass carp to be certified, will be 120 randomly-selected fish. If fish to be certified are from sufficiently different size lots, care must be exercised to ensure that diploid controls represent the lots to be certified.
- The Inspector will view the group of fish that is to be certified, verifying that the group is isolated in a containment unit at least 100-ft. away from the production ponds (thus reducing the change of inadvertent mixing of triploids and diploids) and that numbers of fish are appropriate for the orders to be certified.
- The Inspector will channelize (at a minimum) every tenth fish during the inspection of the 120-fish sample of alleged triploid grass carp. Any sample with a questionable monitor reading will also be channelized, and any questionable data resulting from channelization will be considered non-triploid.
- The observance by the USFWS Inspector of any non-triploid fish will immediately FAIL the Inspection. No Certification can be done until another inspection is rescheduled.
- For States requiring an Asian tapeworm examination, Inspectors will report their on-site findings based on one initial exam of the numbers of fish as specified by the State.
- The Inspector will contact the receiving State's representative within 24-hours and notify the prospective receiving State that the Inspection/Certification was completed. The USFWS Inspector will retain the original Certification report. Copies of the signed Inspection/Certification will be made and distributed as follows:
- Triploid fish Producer (day of inspection)
- State Agencies requiring official written notification (copy by USFWS)
- USFWS Regional Accounting Office for grass carp work (optional)
- Each USFWS Triploid Grass Carp Inspection Office will reserve 1-day each week (generally Tuesday or Wednesday) for administrative duties, vehicle maintenance, and other required activities.
- The USFWS Inspector will collect the appropriate fee-for-service, via one check, from the Producer prior to departure from the Inspection site. Effective January 1, 2009, the fee structure requires the Inspector to collect thirty-six cents ($.36) per certified triploid grass carp that are shipped plus (travel costs) as a result of the Certification Inspection. (Travel costs include mileage round trip to the site at twenty eight and a half cents per mile ($.285/mile), airfare, lodging, per diem, and miscellaneous expenses incurred at the standard government rate.)
- The USFWS will provide quality control assurances for the Grass Carp Inspection and Certification Program.
- Employee training
- Retain records and maintain a triploid grass carp database
- Maintain a file on State grass carp regulations
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