Subd. 1. License required.

A person may not take, possess, buy, sell, or transport turtles without an angling license.

Subd. 2. Sales license.

A person may not take, possess, transport, or purchase turtles for sale without a turtle seller's license. A turtle seller's license is not required to buy turtles for retail sale to consumers:

1. (1) at a location licensed by the department of agriculture or health for sale or preparation of food;
2. (2) of a person licensed by the department of agriculture or health for sale or preparation of food; or
3. (3) of a person buying turtle at a retail outlet.

Subd. 3. Taking; methods prohibited.

1. (a) Except as allowed in paragraph (b), a person may take turtles in any manner, except by use of:

   1. (1) explosives, drugs, poisons, lime, and other harmful substances;
   2. (2) traps; or
   3. (3) nets other than anglers' fish landing nets.

2. (b) A person with a turtle seller's license may take turtles with a floating turtle trap that:

   1. (1) has one or more openings above the water surface that measure at least ten inches by four inches; and

   2. (2) has a mesh size of not less than one-half inch, bar measure.

      The commissioner may prescribe additional regulations for taking turtles for sale.

Subd. 4. Artificial lights.

The commissioner may issue permits to take turtles with the use of artificial lights in designated waters.