TWRA commission approves rule changes on commercial sale of fish, fish-farming imports and PFD labeling

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission on a roll-call vote approved three rule amendments affecting commercial fish sales, fish-farming/imports, and personal flotation device (PFD) and fire‑extinguisher labeling.

The changes approved update Rule 16-60-01-17 to add a list of species that may be sold commercially, amend Rule 16-60-01-26 covering fish farming and catch‑out operations to prohibit importation of live wild-caught catfish 34 inches or larger for farm or catch‑out use, and revise PFD/fire extinguisher labeling requirements to accept manufacturers’ new labels.

The commercial‑use amendment was presented by Chief Jason Henninger, who said the existing rule limited sale of fish flesh to hybrid striped bass and commercially raised trout and that the change “simply” adds species commonly sold in grocery stores and fish markets to better fit the current market. Henninger said the rule continues to prohibit commercial harvest of those species inside Tennessee; commercially sold fish must be harvested outside the state using commercial methods or raised in a licensed fish-farming facility.

Henninger clarified that the change makes sale of species such as crappie and walleye legal when those fish are commercially harvested out of state or farmed; the rule does not authorize commercial harvest of those species in Tennessee.

The second amendment, brought by Henninger, updates fish‑farming nomenclature to reflect recent American Fisheries Society name changes for largemouth and Florida bass and moves a catch‑out provision into the catch‑out section. It also adds the specific prohibition on importing live, wild‑caught catfish 34 inches or larger for use in fish farms or catch‑out facilities.

Lieutenant Colonel Matt Majors presented the PFD and fire‑extinguisher rule update, saying the changes were prompted by a Coast Guard desk review and manufacturer label updates. Majors said the commission will accept the newer, universal numeric PFD labels as well as older Type labels and will recognize new extinguisher manufacturer labeling.

Votes at a glance

- Rule 16-60-01-17 (commercial use of wildlife; sale of fish flesh): approved by roll call, all present voting “Aye.” - Rule 16-60-01-26 (fish farming, catch‑out operations, bait dealers): approved by roll call, all present voting “Aye.” - PFD/fire extinguisher rule amendment (labeling updates): approved by roll call, all present voting “Aye.”

What the votes mean

Commission discussion was limited; presenters described the practical effects and confirmed the rules retain limits on in‑state commercial harvest. The rule changes take effect under the agency’s rule‑making process and will be filed as adopted with the Secretary of State, consistent with the hearing notice the chair said had been published.

Implementation details and clarifications from the meeting

- Commercial fish sales: species added to the rule must be imported (harvested outside Tennessee) or produced in a licensed fish farming facility; the rule does not authorize new in‑state commercial harvest of those species. - Fish‑farming imports: the rule prohibits importing live, wild‑caught catfish 34 inches or larger for use in fish farms or catch‑out operations. - PFDs/fire extinguishers: the rule text was updated to accept manufacturers’ new labeling conventions (new universal numeric PFD labels and updated extinguisher labels) while continuing to accept older, previously approved label types.

Next steps

Agency staff will complete the formal filings and publish the final adopted rule texts and effective dates as required by state rulemaking procedure.