1. (a) Any properly accredited person of known scientific attainment desiring to collect fish, fish eggs, shellfish, or aquatic invertebrates from the wild for scientific or educational purposes shall first obtain a scientific collection permit from the Secretary.
2. (b) The Secretary may issue a scientific collection permit, on the payment of a reasonable fee established by the Department in regulation, to any properly accredited person who has demonstrated a legitimate scientific or educational need for the requested species and submitted an application on a form provided by the Department.
3. (c) The Secretary may adopt regulations governing the issuance, revocation, terms, and conditions of the permit.

4. (d) The permit:

   1. (1) Shall expire December 31 of the issuing year; and
   2. (2) May not be transferred to another person.

5. (e) The permit may become void on proof that the permittee has:

   1. (1) Violated any provision of the permit;
   2. (2) Captured or killed any fish, fish eggs, shellfish, or aquatic invertebrates in violation of the terms and conditions of the permit;
   3. (3) Taken any nests or eggs for other than scientific or educational purposes; or
   4. (4) Taken or possessed any fish, fish eggs, shellfish, or aquatic invertebrates not authorized by the permit.

Added by Acts 2016, c. 117, § 1, eff. June 1, 2016.