Prohibition on possession, sale, trade or distribution of shark fins; exceptions.

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(a) "Shark fin" means the raw or dried fin or tail of a shark.

(b) "Spiny dogfish" means a shark belonging to the family Squalidae in the order Squaliformes that has two spines, one anterior to each dorsal fin, and that does not have an anal fin.

(2) A person may not possess, sell or offer for sale, trade or distribute a shark fin in this state.

(3) This section does not apply to:

(a) A person who possesses, sells or offers for sale, trades or distributes a shark fin from a spiny dogfish that was legally taken or landed under rules adopted by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and in accordance with federal regulations;

(b) A person who holds a license or permit issued by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife under the commercial fishing laws to take a shark and who possesses, sells or offers for sale, trades or distributes a shark fin consistent with the terms of that license or permit; and

(c) A fish processor who holds a license under the commercial fishing laws, who possesses and processes a shark obtained from a person described in paragraph (a) of this subsection and who sells or offers for sale, trades or distributes the shark fin consistent with the terms of the license of that fish processor. [2011 c.371 §2]


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