12.7.503    CERTIFICATION INSPECTION PROCEDURES

(1) Pathogen certification inspections shall be made using microbiological techniques and procedures as recommended by the most recent edition of the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society "Fish Health Bluebook: Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Fish Pathogens." A copy of this publication may be obtained from the American Fisheries Society.

(2) A surrogate species may be used for pathogen testing and certification purposes when:

(a) the surrogate species is designated by the director and verified by the department as a suitable species for testing;

(b) testing requirements significantly impact the population to be tested, including when population size of sensitive or at-risk species are too small to undergo lethal sampling; and

(c) the surrogate species has similar likelihood of exposure to pathogens and display similar susceptibilities to various pathogens, particularly Class A pathogens listed in ARM 12.7.502.

(3) Surrogate species test results will be considered as they would for the target species.

History: 87-3-223, MCA; IMP, 87-3-209, 87-3-210, 87-3-221, 87-3-222, 87-3-223, 87-3-224, 87-3-225, 87-3-226, 87-3-227, MCA; NEW, 1991 MAR p. 1275, Eff. 7/26/91; AMD, 2014 MAR p. 1922, Eff. 8/22/14.