40 CFR § 122.25 - Aquaculture projects (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25).

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s122.25"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 122.25 - Aquaculture projects (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25)."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "122.25"
section_name: "Aquaculture projects (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25)."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "WATER PROGRAMS"
part_number: "122"
part_name: "EPA ADMINISTERED PERMIT PROGRAMS: THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "The Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251"
regulatory_source: "48 FR 14153, Apr. 1, 1983, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "122"
---


# 122.25 Aquaculture projects (applicable to State NPDES programs, see § 123.25).

(a) *Permit requirement.* Discharges into aquaculture projects, as defined in this section, are subject to the NPDES permit program through section 318 of CWA, and in accordance with 40 CFR part 125, subpart B.

(b) *Definitions.* (1) *Aquaculture project* means a defined managed water area which uses discharges of pollutants into that designated area for the maintenance or production of harvestable freshwater, estuarine, or marine plants or animals.

(2) *Designated project area* means the portions of the waters of the United States within which the permittee or permit applicant plans to confine the cultivated species, using a method or plan or operation (including, but not limited to, physical confinement) which, on the basis of reliable scientific evidence, is expected to ensure that specific individual organisms comprising an aquaculture crop will enjoy increased growth attributable to the discharge of pollutants, and be harvested within a defined geographic area.