How Can I Transport Fresh Fish From Canada to the U.S.?
- 1). Pack the fish. Keeping the fish fresh through transport requires appropriate care. If traveling on a plane from Canada to the United States, packing requires the use of a polyethylene bag to wrap the fish in, Styrofoam spacers or boxes for padding and wet-lock or corrugated fiber boxes. Place frozen gel packs or dry ice in with the fish to keep it fresh. If you plan to travel home by car, truck or over land, packing requirements are not as strict, but using the same method is the best option to keep the fish fresh. Fish will stay fresh for about two days when packed in this method. Changing out the gel packs with newly frozen packs will keep it fresh longer.
- 2). Declare the fish when moving between countries. If traveling from Alaska through Canada and back into the States, declare the fish to the Canadian officials upon entry to Canada and then declare the fish to American officials upon entry to the U.S. If traveling from Canada to the U.S., the only declaration to officials is at the border.
- 3). Obtain permits for transport. Permits are only required when the fish are protected species in either Canada or the United States. If the fish species are not protected in either country, permits are not required for transport. There are some fish that are protected in Alaska that are not protected in Canada and there are fish protected in Canada that are not protected in Alaska. The exact permits will differ based on the fish.
- 4). File form 3-177 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service upon exit or entry to the United States. As with the permits, this form is only required when transporting a protected fish species through Canada and is not required if the fish are not protected. The form is available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website or is available at the border office.
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