Tex. Parks & Wild. Code Section 66.007
Exotic Harmful or Potentially Harmful Fish and Shellfish

(a)

No person may import, possess, sell, or place into the public water of this state exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or shellfish except as authorized by rule or permit issued by the department.

(b)

The department shall publish a list of exotic fish and exotic shellfish for which a permit under Subsection (a) is required.

(c)

The department shall make rules to carry out this section.

(c-1)

The commission by rule shall waive the initial and renewal fees for an exotic species permit if the permit or permit renewal is requested by a public school to establish and maintain an educational program that will give students experience with a sustainable system of agriculture that mixes aquaculture and hydroponics. To qualify for the fee waiver, the school must submit an application to the department showing that the school’s program meets the department’s requirements, including requirements for supervision, handling of the exotic species, and control of wastes.

(d)

An operator of a commercial aquaculture facility as defined by Section 134.001 (Definitions), Agriculture Code, may import, possess, or sell harmful or potentially harmful exotic fish species as provided by Section 134.020 (Exotic Species), Agriculture Code.

(e)

In this section:

(1)

“Exotic fish” means a nonindigenous fish that is not normally found in the public water of this state.

(2)

“Exotic shellfish” means a nonindigenous shellfish that is not normally found in the public water of this state.

(3)

“Public water” has the meaning assigned by Section 66.015 (Introduction of Fish, Shellfish, and Aquatic Plants).

(f)

An operator of a commercial aquaculture facility as defined by Section 134.001 (Definitions), Agriculture Code, may not import, possess, propagate, or transport exotic shellfish unless the operator furnishes evidence required by the department showing that the shellfish are free of disease.

(g)

The commission may adopt rules to control a disease or agent of disease transmission that:

(1)

may affect penaeid shrimp species; and

(2)

has the potential to affect cultured species or other aquatic species.

(h)

If one or more manifestations of disease is observed in any cultured marine penaeid shrimp species, the department shall immediately place the aquaculture facility under quarantine condition. The department shall determine, by rule, the meaning of “manifestation of disease” and “quarantine condition” under this section.

(i)

The department may coordinate with the Texas Animal Health Commission regarding testing for diseases.

(j)

Except as provided in Subsection (k), an operator of an aquaculture facility under quarantine condition may not discharge waste or another substance from the facility except with approval of the department and a wastewater discharge authorization from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(k)

Even if under quarantine condition, an aquaculture facility shall discharge wastewater or another substance as necessary to comply with an emergency plan that has been submitted to and approved by the department and incorporated into a wastewater discharge authorization issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(l)

On receiving notice from an owner of the observance of manifestations of disease, the department shall immediately:

(1)

notify the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Animal Health Commission; and

(2)

advise the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Animal Health Commission regarding the appropriate action to be taken.

(m)

A water transfer described by this subsection is not a violation of this section. The department may not require a permit under this section for a water transfer described by this subsection. This subsection applies to a water transfer by a district or authority created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, that:

(1)

is initially conveyed by a water intake structure that is:

(A)

shared by at least two districts or authorities; and

(B)

located on a reservoir situated on the boundary of this state and another state;

(2)

uses a closed conveyance system approved by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with an invasive species management plan approved by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; and

(3)

contributes to a water supply that serves at least 1.5 million people, all of whom reside in an area that:

(A)

borders another state;

(B)

contains at least 10 contiguous counties;

(C)

contains at least one county with a population of more than one million; and

(D)

is adjacent to a county with a population of more than one million.

(n)

(1)

the transfer is through a water supply system, including a related water conveyance, storage, or distribution facility;

(2)

the transfer is undertaken by a utility owned by a political subdivision, including a water district or municipality; and

(3)

the transfer is described by one or more of the following:

(A)

a transfer from a water body in which there is no known exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or shellfish population;

(B)

a transfer of water into a water body in which there is a known exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or shellfish population;

(C)

a transfer of water directly to a water treatment facility;

(D)

a transfer of water that has been treated prior to the transfer into a water body; or

(E)

a transfer of water from a reservoir or through a dam to address flood control or to meet water supply requirements or environmental flow purposes, provided that a person making a transfer of water described by this paragraph from a body of water in which there is a known exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or shellfish population notifies the department annually in writing before the proposed transfer occurs.

(o)