Sec. 41325.
(1) A person shall not do any of the following:
(a) Place a watercraft, watercraft equipment, or a watercraft trailer in the waters of this state if the watercraft, watercraft equipment, or watercraft trailer has an aquatic plant attached.
(b) Transport any watercraft over land without first doing all of the following:
(i) Removing all drain plugs from bilges, ballast tanks, and live wells.
(ii) Draining all water from any live wells and bilge.
(iii) Ensuring that the watercraft, trailer, and any conveyance used to transport the watercraft or trailer are free of aquatic organisms, including plants.
(2) A law enforcement officer may order the owner or operator of a watercraft, watercraft equipment, watercraft trailer, or any conveyance used to transport the watercraft or trailer to comply with subsection (1)(b). The owner or operator shall obey the order.
(3) A person shall not release baitfish in any waters of this state. A person who collects fish shall not use the fish as bait or cut bait except in the inland lake, stream, or Great Lake where the fish was caught, or in a connecting waterway of the inland lake, stream, or Great Lake where the fish was caught if the fish could freely move between the original location of capture and the location of release.
(4) A person, who catches fish other than baitfish in a lake, stream, Great Lake, or connecting waterway shall only release the fish in the lake, stream, or Great Lake where the fish was caught, or in a connecting waterway of the lake, stream, or Great Lake where the fish was caught if the fish could freely move between the original location of capture and the location of release.
(5) The department shall prepare a notice that contains a summary of subsections (1) to (4), (6), and (7) and the definition of aquatic plant in section 41301 and shall make copies of the notice available to owners of public boating access sites. The department shall include the notice in relevant department publications and post the notice on its website.
(6) The owner of a public boating access site shall post and maintain the notice described in subsection (5) at the public boating access site.
(7) A person who violates subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (6) is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00.
History: Add. 2009, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Sept. 15, 2009 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 451, Eff. Mar. 21, 2019
Popular Name: Act 451
Compiler's Notes: NREPA