Sec. 26-3. Powers and duties of commissioner.
Sec. 26-45. Bait dealer's license.
Sec. 26-66. Scope of regulations.
Sec. 26-3. Powers and duties of commissioner. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall enforce all of the laws relating to fish and wildlife of the state and shall possess all powers necessary to fulfill the duties prescribed by law with respect thereto and to bring actions in the proper courts of this state for the enforcement of such laws and the orders and regulations adopted and promulgated by said commissioner. Said commissioner shall have the supervision of hatcheries and retaining ponds and of the introduction, propagation, securing and distribution of such fish and wildlife as are adapted to the waters or lands of this state, and may designate, as closed to fishing, areas of inland waters to provide for spawning beds. The commissioner may take at any time or place, using any method consistent with professional wildlife management principles, any fish, crustacean, bird or animal for scientific and educational purposes, public health and safety, propagation and dissemination, or protection of natural or agricultural ecosystems. Such taking shall not include the use of a snare. In the case of an imminent threat to public health or public safety, notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the commissioner may take at any time or place, using any method consistent with professional wildlife management principles, any fish, crustacean, bird or animal. Said commissioner shall have jurisdiction of all matters relating to fish and wildlife on any land belonging to the state and the regulation of hunting, fishing and trapping and the use of the waters of any lake, pond or stream on such land. The commissioner shall not grant to any conservation officer, appointee or other person any special privileges with respect to hunting, fishing, trapping or the use of the waters of any lake, pond or stream on such land. Said commissioner may erect buildings upon any such land, subject to the permission of the authorities of any institution or commission controlling such land and the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services and the State Properties Review Board. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may employ such special assistants as necessary. Said commissioner shall cooperate with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the fish and wildlife commissioners of other states. Said commissioner may acquire, by gift or lease and, with the approval of the Governor alone, by purchase, lands for the establishment of fish hatcheries or game preserves and fisheries or wildlife management areas. Said commissioner may, with the approval of the Attorney General, grant rights-of-way or other easements or leases for public purposes to the United States government, any subdivision of the state or any public utility within the state on or with respect to any lands under jurisdiction of said commissioner if said commissioner finds that such purposes are not in conflict with the public interest, provided any such public utility shall pay for any right-of-way, easement or lease so granted such compensation as said commissioner considers reasonable. Said commissioner shall have authority to establish the boundaries of any properties under the jurisdiction of said commissioner by agreement with owners of adjoining property and may, with the approval of the Attorney General alone, exchange land with such property owners and execute deeds in the name of the state for the purpose of establishing such boundaries. The commissioner may provide for the importation of fish and wildlife, and provide for the protection, propagation and distribution of such imported or native fish and wildlife. The commissioner may locate, lay out, construct and maintain nurseries and rearing ponds where fish may be planted, propagated and reared and liberate and distribute such fish in the waters of this state. Said commissioner may acquire by gift, purchase, capture or otherwise any fish or wildlife for propagation, experimental or scientific purposes. Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes, said commissioner may destroy and dispose of any undesirable or diseased wildlife in the interest of wildlife management at any time or place and using any method consistent with professional wildlife management principles if said commissioner determines that such wildlife (1) aggressively invades, or is likely to be detrimental to, agricultural crops, native plants, livestock or wildlife, (2) is likely to be a carrier of insects, disease or parasites detrimental to such crops, plants or wildlife, (3) is likely to have a detrimental effect on natural or agricultural ecosystems, (4) is likely to be detrimental to endangered or threatened species or species of special concern, as listed in the regulations adopted by the commissioner under this chapter, or such species' essential habitats, or (5) causes severe property damage. The commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with educational institutions and state, federal or other agencies to promote wildlife research and to train personnel for wildlife management, information, distribution and education projects, and may enter into cooperative agreements with federal agencies, municipalities, corporations, organized groups or landowners, associations and individuals for the development of fish or wildlife management and demonstration projects. The commissioner may allocate and expend for the protection, restoration, preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife all funds of the state collected, appropriated and acquired for the purpose.
(1949 Rev., S. 4848; 1953, S. 2444d; 1957, P.A. 402; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 155; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 208; P.A. 75-425, S. 41, 57; P.A. 77-614, S. 73, 610; P.A. 87-496, S. 95, 110; P.A. 96-143, S. 2, 4; P.A. 97-250, S. 3; P.A. 03-192, S. 9; P.A. 04-109, S. 13; P.A. 11-51, S. 90; 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 13-247, S. 200; P.A. 25-138, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act deleted references to expenditures from game fund and fish fund for management, protection, distribution, etc. of fish and game; 1961 act authorized taking fish for educational purposes and for public health and safety and deleted provision requiring submission of outline for comprehensive conservation program to general assembly at each regular session; 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game and its director with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 75-425 required approval of state properties review board for erection of buildings on state land and added word “alone” as qualifier re required approval of governor and attorney general in certain actions involving land; P.A. 77-614 replaced public works commissioner with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 87-496 substituted “public works” for “administrative services” commissioner; P.A. 96-143 deleted provisions re assignment of persons to occupy department-owned property and the charging of rent, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 97-250 provided for preliminary determinations required of the commissioner in order to exercise power to destroy undesirable or diseased wildlife in the interest of wildlife management and made a technical change; P.A. 03-192 made technical changes, authorized the commissioner to take any fish, crustacean, bird or animal, using methods consistent with professional wildlife management principles, for protection of natural or agricultural ecosystems or in the case of imminent threat to public health or safety, authorized the acquisition of land for fisheries or wildlife management areas and added provisions re destruction and disposal of undesirable or diseased wildlife using methods consistent with professional wildlife management principles and re additional grounds for such destruction and disposal; P.A. 04-109 made technical changes, effective May 21, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Works” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Construction Services”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 13-247, “Commissioner of Construction Services” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Administrative Services”, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 25-138 deleted prohibition for taking on Sundays.
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Sec. 26-27c. Reproduction and marketing of stamps as artwork. Migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account. Subaccount. Restricted uses of funds. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may provide for the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and the Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp to be reproduced and marketed in the form of prints and other related artwork. Funds generated from such marketing and the sale of such stamps pursuant to section 26-27b shall be deposited in a separate account maintained by the Treasurer and known as the “migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account”. Within said account, there shall be a subaccount for the voluntary migratory bird and resident game bird conservation donation collected pursuant to section 26-27b. The migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account shall be a separate, nonlapsing account. All funds credited to the migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account and subaccount shall only be used for: (1) The development, management, preservation, conservation, acquisition, purchase and maintenance of migratory and resident game birds, migratory and resident game bird habitat and wetlands and purchase or acquisition of recreational rights or interests relating to migratory and resident game birds; and (2) the design, production, promotion and procurement and sale of the prints and related artwork.
(P.A. 91-308, S. 3; P.A. 92-133, S. 2, 9; P.A. 94-130, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 441; P.A. 10-3, S. 69; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 16-27, S. 4; P.A. 25-110, S. 93.)
History: P.A. 92-133 granted broader authority to the commissioner for the reproduction and marketing of the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and required funds generated from the sale and marketing of the stamps be deposited into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund; P.A. 94-130 changed name of fund from “Migratory Bird Conservation Fund” to “migratory bird conservation account” and made said account an account of the Conservation Fund and eliminated the requirement that investment earnings be credited to the assets of said fund; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 deleted provisions re funds to be deposited into migratory bird conservation account and re use of same; P.A. 10-3 added requirement that funds generated from marketing and sale of stamps be deposited into migratory bird conservation account, added provision re subaccount within said account for voluntary migratory bird conservation donation and added provision re permissible uses for funds in account and subaccount, effective April 14, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 16-27 added reference to Connecticut Resident Game Bird Conservation Stamp, replaced “migratory bird conservation account” with “migratory bird and resident game bird conservation account”, deleted reference to waterfowl habitat and added references to migratory and resident game birds and migratory and resident game bird habitat, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 25-110 deleted reference to General Fund and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2025.
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Sec. 26-45. Bait dealer's license. No person shall possess for the purpose of sale, sell or offer for sale any bait species without first obtaining a bait dealer's license from the commissioner, provided the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons issued a commercial hatchery license under section 26-149 or to any person operating a food service establishment that is regulated pursuant to the public health code when such bait species purchased by such person is prepared as food for human consumption and is not resold for any other purpose. Application forms for such license shall be furnished by the commissioner. Such license shall be nontransferable. The fee for each such license shall be sixty-three dollars annually. Each such license shall expire on the last day of December next after issuance. Each such licensed bait dealer may possess and sell only such bait species as shall be authorized under regulations issued by the commissioner, provided live carp and goldfish shall not be possessed for any purpose on premises used by licensed bait dealers. Each such licensee shall keep such records relating to the operation of such business as the commissioner determines on forms furnished by the commissioner and shall file such report with the commissioner within thirty days after the expiration of such license. No such report shall contain any material false statement. Failure to file such report shall be a violation of this section and the commissioner may refuse to reissue such license until the licensee complies with this requirement. Representatives of the commissioner may enter upon the premises of bait dealers at any time to inspect required records and the bait species possessed and to detect violations of this section and regulations issued hereunder by the commissioner, and such representatives may confiscate and dispose of any fish illegally possessed. Any person who violates any provision of this section or any such regulation issued by the commissioner shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor.
(1957, P.A. 338, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 8; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 240; P.A. 82-91, S. 21, 38; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 15, 21; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 89; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 449; P.A. 10-3, S. 40; P.A. 12-80, S. 83; P.A. 25-14, S. 2.)
History: 1959 act increased license fee from $2 to $5 and required that fees collected be deposited in general fund rather than in fish fund; 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 82-91 increased license fee from $5 to $10; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 increased the fee for a bait dealer's license to $20; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 increased license fee to $50, effective January 1, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $50 to $100; P.A. 10-3 reduced fee from $100 to $63 and made a technical change, effective April 14, 2010; P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not less than $10 or more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both with a class D misdemeanor and made a technical change; P.A. 25-14 added exemption for any person who operates a food service establishment regulated by the public health code provided such bait species is prepared as food for consumption and not resold.
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Sec. 26-66. Scope of regulations. The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 governing the taking of wildlife, provided any regulations concerning the taking of migratory game birds shall be consistent with section 26-91. The regulations may: (1) Establish the open and closed seasons, which may be modified by decreasing or increasing the number of days for any specific species, (2) establish hours, days or periods during the open season when hunting shall not be permitted for specific species, (3) establish legal hours, (4) prescribe the legal methods, including type, kind, gauge and caliber of weapons and ammunition, including long bow, (5) prescribe the sex of wildlife that may be taken on a state-wide or local area basis, (6) establish the daily bag limit and the season bag limit, (7) establish the maximum number of persons that may hunt on designated areas during any twenty-four-hour period, (8) require that a permit be obtained from the landowner or such landowner's agent, or the commissioner or such commissioner's agent, to enter upon designated premises or areas for the purpose of hunting, and further require that such permit be returned within a specified time to the issuing authority with an accurate report of all wildlife taken under such permit, the time spent on the premises or area and any other data required by the commissioner for management purposes, (9) establish areas that shall be restricted for designated periods for hunting only with long bow or other specified weapons, (10) establish areas that shall be restricted for designated periods for hunting exclusively by persons with physical disabilities, (11) establish requirements and procedures for tagging and reporting birds or animals taken by hunting or trapping, and (12) provided no regulation or order prohibits or may be construed to prohibit the intentional discharge of a firearm for the purpose of lawful self-defense or lawful defense of another person, in the interest of public safety and for the purpose of preventing unreasonable conduct and abuses by hunters, and to provide reasonable control of the actions and behavior of such persons, said commissioner may issue regulations and orders to (A) prohibit the carrying of loaded firearms and hunting within specified distances of buildings, (B) prohibit the discharge of firearms and other hunting devices within specified distances of buildings and, when within specified distances, the discharge of such firearms and devices toward persons, buildings and livestock, (C) prohibit hunting while on any road adjacent to any state park, state forest, premises used for the breeding, rearing or holding in captivity of wildlife or premises used for zoological purposes, (D) establish minimum distances between fixed positions, floating and drift blinds for waterfowl hunting, (E) prohibit crossing over lawns and lands under cultivation, (F) prohibit damage to property, livestock and agricultural crops, (G) prohibit, during specified periods on designated areas, the training, exercising and running of dogs under control or uncontrolled, (H) prohibit the operation and parking of vehicles on designated portions of public and private roads, parking areas, lanes, passageways, rights-of-way, fields and lots, (I) prohibit the discarding of bottles, glass, cans, paper, junk, litter and trash, (J) control the launching, anchoring, mooring, storage and abandonment of boats, trailers and related equipment on properties under the control of the commissioner, (K) specify (i) the persons who shall wear fluorescent orange clothing, (ii) the time periods during which such clothing shall be worn, and (iii) the types and amounts of such clothing which shall be worn, on and after January 1, 1989, when hunting.
(1955, S. 2476d; 1957, P.A. 406, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 261; P.A. 74-135, S. 1; 74-151, S. 1, 7; P.A. 81-103; P.A. 85-19; P.A. 86-111, S. 2; P.A. 88-98, S. 1, 6; P.A. 17-202, S. 79; P.A. 25-43, S. 8.)
History: 1971 act substituted references to environmental protection commissioner for references to board of fisheries and game; P.A. 74-135 deleted exclusive hunting periods for women in Subdiv. (10); P.A. 74-151 deleted “except deer” in provision authorizing commissioner to regulate hunting and substituted “wildlife” for “pheasants” in Subdiv. (5); P.A. 81-103 authorized the commissioner to regulate “the taking of all species of wildlife” where before authorization was to regulate “hunting for all species of game birds and wild quadrupeds”; P.A. 85-19 added Subdiv. (21) re tagging and reporting of birds and animals and clarified language re commissioner's regulatory power; P.A. 86-111 made technical change, inserting former Subdiv. (21) as Subdiv. (11) and renumbering accordingly; P.A. 88-98 authorized regulations governing the wearing of fluorescent orange clothing; P.A. 17-202 amended Subdiv. (8) by making technical changes, and amended Subdiv. (10) by replacing “the physically handicapped” with “persons with physical disabilities”; P.A. 25-43 redesignated part of Subdiv. (11) as Subdiv. (12) and added prohibition against construing a regulation to prohibit discharge of a firearm for self-defense or defense of another person therein, redesignated existing Subdivs. (12) to (21) as Subdiv. (12)(A) to (J), redesignated existing Subdiv. (22)(A) to (C) as Subdiv. (12)(K)(i) to (iii) and made a technical change.
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Sec. 26-73. Hunting on Sunday on private property. Bow and arrow hunting of deer on private property. Blazed trail setback. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, Sunday shall be a closed season except for hunting on private property and for the purpose of trapping under the provisions of this chapter. Sunday shall be a closed season for the hunting of migratory birds. The possession in the open air on Sunday of any implement for hunting shall be prima facie evidence of hunting. No provision of this section shall be construed so as to affect any provision of section 26-31, 26-48, 26-52 or 27-35. Artificially propagated birds designated by the commissioner may be shot on Sundays on licensed private shooting preserves subject to such regulations of the commissioner as may apply to such private shooting preserves, provided permission so to shoot has been obtained from the town or towns within which such licensed private shooting preserves are located. Any person who hunts on private property pursuant to this section shall: (1) Have the written permission of the private property owner where such hunting is conducted, and (2) carry such written permission upon his or her person during the hunting. No person shall hunt on Sunday on private property pursuant to this section within forty yards of a blazed trail open to the public, including, but not limited to, Connecticut blue blazed trails and federally designated and regulated trails.
(1949 Rev., S. 4887; 1949, S. 2486d; 1957, P.A. 22, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 268; P.A. 15-204, S. 1; P.A. 18-181, S. 9; P.A. 25-138, S. 2.)
History: 1971 act substituted references to environmental protection commissioner for references to board of fisheries and game; P.A. 15-204 added provisions re bow and arrow hunting of deer on private property and made conforming changes; P.A. 18-181 deleted Subdiv. (1) re person conducting bow and arrow hunting of deer on Sunday on private property do so only in deer management zones, redesignated existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as new Subdivs. (1) and (2), and made a technical change; P.A. 25-138 deleted provision re prohibition on Sunday hunting on private property other than by bow and arrow, added provision re Sunday shall be closed season for hunting of migratory birds, added references to Connecticut blue blazed trails, federally designated trails and regulated trails re prohibition for hunting within 40 yards of such trails and made technical and conforming changes.
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Sec. 26-82. Killing of deer regulated. Damage permit. Jacklight permit. Penalties. Plan by homeowner association, municipality or nonprofit land-holding organization to take deer. (a) No person shall hunt, pursue, wound or kill any deer or sell or offer for sale or have in possession the flesh of any deer captured or killed in this state, or have in possession the flesh of any deer from any other state or country unless it is properly tagged as required by such state or country except as provided by the terms of this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, and except that any landowner or primary lessee of land owned by such landowner or the husband or wife or any lineal descendant of such landowner or lessee or any designated agent of such landowner or lessee may kill deer with a shotgun, rifle or bow and arrow provided a damage permit has first been obtained from the commissioner and such person has not been convicted for any violation of this section, section 26-85, 26-86a, 26-86b or 26-90 or subsection (b) of section 26-86a-2 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies within three years preceding the date of application. Upon the receipt of an application, on forms provided by the commissioner and containing such information as said commissioner may require, from any landowner who has or whose primary lessee has an actual or potential gross annual income of twenty-five hundred dollars or more from the commercial cultivated production of grain, forage, fruit, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants or Christmas trees and who is experiencing an actual or potential loss of income because of severe damage by deer, the commissioner shall issue not more than six damage permits without fee to such landowner or the primary lessee of such landowner, or the wife, husband, lineal descendant or designated agent of such landowner or lessee. The application shall be notarized and signed by all landowners or by the landowner or a lessee to whom a farmer tax exemption permit has been issued pursuant to subdivision (63) of section 12-412. Such damage permit shall be valid through October thirty-first of the year in which it is issued and may specify the hunting implement or shot size or both which shall be used to take such deer. The commissioner may at any time revoke such permit for violation of any provision of this section or for violation of any regulation pursuant thereto or upon the request of the applicant. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 26-85, the commissioner may issue a permit to any landowner or primary lessee of land owned by such landowner or the husband or wife or any lineal descendant of such landowner or lessee and to not more than three designated agents of such landowner or lessee to use a jacklight for the purpose of taking deer when it is shown, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that such deer are causing damage which cannot be reduced during the daylight hours between sunrise and one-half hour after sunset on the land of such landowner. The commissioner may require notification as specified on such permit prior to its use. Any deer killed in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be the property of the owner of the land upon which the same has been killed, but shall not be sold, bartered, traded or offered for sale, and the person who kills any such deer shall tag and report each deer killed, as provided in section 26-86b. Upon receipt of the report required by section 26-86b, the commissioner shall issue an additional damage permit to the person making such report. Any deer killed otherwise than under the conditions provided for in this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall remain the property of the state and may be disposed of by the commissioner at the commissioner's discretion to any state institution or may be sold and the proceeds of such sale shall be remitted to the State Treasurer, who shall apply the same to the General Fund, and no person, except the commissioner, shall retail, sell or offer for sale the whole or any part of any such deer. No person shall be a designated agent of more than one landowner or primary lessee in any calendar year. No person shall make, set or use any trap, snare, salt lick, bait or other device for the purpose of taking, injuring or killing any deer, except that deer may be taken over an attractant in areas designated by the commissioner. For the purposes of this section, an attractant means any natural or artificial substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered that is used to attract, entice or lure deer to a specific location including, but not limited to, salt, chemicals or minerals, including their residues or any natural or artificial food, hay, grain, fruit or nuts. The commissioner may authorize any municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization approved by the commissioner under the provisions of this section to take deer at any time or place using any method consistent with professional wildlife management principles when a severe nuisance or ecological damage can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commissioner. Any such municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization shall submit to the commissioner, for the commissioner's review and approval, a plan that describes the extent and degree of the nuisance or ecological damage and the proposed methods of taking. Prior to the implementation of any such approved plan, the municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization shall provide notice of such plan to any abutting landowners of such place where the plan will be implemented. Such plan shall not authorize the use of a snare. No person shall hunt, pursue or kill deer being pursued by any dog, whether or not such dog is owned or controlled by such person, except that no person shall be guilty of a violation under this section when such a deer is struck by a motor vehicle operated by such person. No person shall use or allow any dog in such person's charge to hunt, pursue or kill deer. No permit shall be issued when in the opinion of the commissioner the public safety may be jeopardized.
(b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days or more than six months, or shall be both fined and imprisoned, for the first offense, and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or shall be both fined and imprisoned.
(1949 Rev., S. 4898, 4901; 1949, S. 2493d; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 13; 1963, P.A. 327; 422; February, 1965, P.A. 78; 1969, P.A. 53, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 273; P.A. 74-151, S. 2, 7; P.A. 75-192; P.A. 79-445, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-305; P.A. 84-172; P.A. 90-167; P.A. 97-250, S. 4; P.A. 02-103, S. 34; P.A. 03-123, S. 9; 03-192, S. 6; P.A. 04-109, S. 14; 04-257, S. 44; P.A. 25-138, S. 3.)
History: 1959 act required that proceeds from sale of illegally seized deer be deposited in general fund rather than game fund; 1963 acts clarified definition of “regular employee” by specifying employees “for wages to perform agricultural, management or maintenance duties on the property for which a permit is issued”, by specifying that twelve-month employment period is “prior to killing any deer”, and prohibited taking more than one deer in any year without board's authorization; 1965 act prohibited hunting, pursuing or killing deer which is being pursued by a dog, but exempted persons who strike a deer with a motor vehicle from consideration as violators of provisions; 1969 act excluded references to lessees throughout section, made deer killed except as allowed under “chapter” rather than “section” property of the state; 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game and its director with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 74-151 deleted provisions defining “regular employee” and authorizing such employees to kill deer, referring instead to designated agents of landowners, added provisions re specific crop protection permits, deleted provision which had allowed use of bow and arrow and replaced previous reporting procedure with requirement that kills be tagged and reported as provided in Sec. 26-86b; P.A. 75-192 allowed issuance of three permits rather than one, reducing from two to one the number of kills allowed per permit and set duration of permit at four months rather than one year; P.A. 79-445 changed landowner's qualifications for permit from ownership of ten or more acres used for agricultural purposes to landowners with actual or potential loss of $500 or more from cultivated products, increased number of permits allowed to each landowner from three to six, restored original expiration date of December thirty-first, authorized commissioner to specify weapon or shot size to be used, deleted commissioner's power to allow taking more than one deer with a permit, allowed landowner to designate up to three agents rather than one, authorized issuance of additional permit after commissioner receives required report, prohibited agents from serving more than one landowner in a year and forbade use of bait to take deer; P.A. 80-305 added Subsec. (b) re penalties for violation of provisions; P.A. 84-172 amended Subsec. (a) to make a primary lessee eligible for a damage permit, to eliminate the restriction on the number of deer that may be taken under a permit and to make a primary lessee, husband or wife or lineal descendant of the landowner or lessee eligible for a jacklight permit, inserted new Subsec. (b) authorizing damage permits where no commercial damage occurs and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 90-167 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit possessing the flesh of deer from another state or country unless it is properly tagged, prohibited persons who are convicted of violating certain statutes from killing deer pursuant to a damage permit, substituted “twenty-five hundred” for “five hundred”, required that all landowners or the landowner or lessee holding a farmer tax exemption permit sign the application, substituted “October thirty-first” for “December thirty-first”, required a showing that damage cannot be reduced during the daylight hours, authorized the commissioner to require notification as specified on the permit, deleted Subsec. (b) re damage permits where no commercial damage occurs and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 97-250 amended Subsec. (a) to allow taking of deer under this section with bow and arrow by persons holding deer damage permits; P.A. 02-103 made technical changes in Subsec. (a); P.A. 03-123 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective June 26, 2003; P.A. 03-192 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to violation of Sec. 26-82 with reference to violation of “this section” and adding provisions re the taking of deer over an attractant in areas designated by the commissioner and plans by municipalities, homeowner associations and nonprofit land-holding organizations to take deer when such plan is approved by the commissioner and notice to abutting landowners is provided; P.A. 04-109 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective May 21, 2004; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 25-138 deleted reference to taking of deer other than on Sundays.
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Sec. 26-86a. Game management. Deer hunting; permitted weapons, locations, bag limits. Consent forms; permits, selection process. (a) The commissioner shall establish by regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 standards for deer management, and methods, regulated areas, bag limits, seasons and permit eligibility for hunting deer with bow and arrow, muzzleloader and shotgun, except that no such hunting shall be permitted on Sunday unless it is conducted on private lands pursuant to section 26-73. No person shall hunt, pursue, wound or kill deer with a firearm without first obtaining a deer permit from the commissioner in addition to the license required by section 26-27. Application for such permit shall be made on forms furnished by the commissioner and containing such information as he may require. Such permit shall be of a design prescribed by the commissioner, shall contain such information and conditions as the commissioner may require, and may be revoked for violation of any provision of this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. As used in this section, “muzzleloader” means a rifle or shotgun of at least forty-five caliber, incapable of firing a self-contained cartridge, which uses powder, a projectile, including, but not limited to, a standard round ball, mini-balls, maxi-balls and Sabot bullets, and wadding loaded separately at the muzzle end, and “rifle” means a long gun the projectile of which is six millimeters or larger in diameter. The fee for a firearms permit shall be nineteen dollars for residents of the state and sixty-eight dollars for nonresidents, except that any nonresident who is an active full-time member of the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, may purchase a firearms permit for the same fee as is charged a resident of the state. The commissioner shall issue, without fee, a private land deer permit to the owner of ten or more acres of private land and the husband or wife, parent, grandparent, sibling and any lineal descendant of such owner, provided no such owner, husband or wife, parent, grandparent, sibling or lineal descendant shall be issued more than one such permit per season. Such permit shall allow the use of a rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader or bow and arrow on such land from November first to December thirty-first, inclusive. Deer may be so hunted at such times and in such areas of such state-owned land as are designated by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and on privately owned land with the signed consent of the landowner, on forms furnished by the department, and such signed consent shall be carried by any person when so hunting on private land. The owner of ten acres or more of private land may allow the use of a rifle to hunt deer on such land during the shotgun season. The commissioner shall determine, by regulation, the number of consent forms issued for any regulated area established by said commissioner. The commissioner shall provide for a fair and equitable random method for the selection of successful applicants who may obtain shotgun and muzzleloader permits for hunting deer on state lands. Any person whose name appears on more than one application for a shotgun permit or more than one application for a muzzleloader permit shall be disqualified from the selection process for such permit. No person shall hunt, pursue, wound or kill deer with a bow and arrow without first obtaining a bow and arrow permit pursuant to section 26-86c. “Bow and arrow”, as used in this section and in section 26-86c, means a bow with a draw weight of not less than forty pounds. The arrowhead shall have two or more blades and may not be less than seven-eighths of an inch at the widest point. No person shall carry firearms of any kind while hunting with a bow and arrow under this section and section 26-86c.
(b) Any person who takes a deer without a permit shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days or more than six months or shall be both fined and imprisoned, for the first offense, and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or shall be both fined and imprisoned.
(1959, P.A. 227, S. 1, 2; 1961, P.A. 337; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 276; P.A. 74-151, S. 3, 7; P.A. 77-86; P.A. 78-135, S. 1; P.A. 79-491, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-440; P.A. 85-20; P.A. 87-180, S. 2; P.A. 88-98, S. 3, 6; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 9, 21; P.A. 93-408, S. 2; P.A. 95-352, S. 2; P.A. 97-250, S. 5; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 98; P.A. 03-276, S. 2; 03-278, S. 88; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 458; P.A. 10-3, S. 48; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 15-204, S. 2; P.A. 25-138, S. 4.)
History: 1961 act changed opening date for bow and arrow season from December first to November first; 1971 act replaced state board of fisheries and game with commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 74-151 greatly expanded provisions, including provisions re use of muzzleloaders and shotguns, deleted specific dates for bow and arrow season previously in force and deleted requirement that arrows used bear full name and address of their owner; P.A. 77-86 provided that persons submitting more than one application for muzzleloader or shotgun permits will be disqualified and that those who are issued a shotgun permit shall be ineligible for such permit the following year; P.A. 78-135 added Subsec. (b) re penalties for taking deer without permit; P.A. 79-491 clarified provisions, substituted references to firearms permits for references to separate muzzleloader and shotgun permits, defined rifle for purposes of section, authorized issuance of “private land deer permit”, authorized owners of ten acres or more to allow use of rifles in hunting on their land, authorized commissioner to determine number of consent forms issued for any regulated area and deleted provisions making those issued shotgun permits ineligible for such a permit the following year and prohibiting taking of more than one deer, since regulated areas, bag limits, separate seasons and permit eligibility are to be regulated by commissioner; P.A. 83-440 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the commissioner to issue private land deer permits to parents and grandparents of landowners, to remove provision linking issuance of permits in numbers linked to the amount of acreage owned, to remove the limitation on the number of deer that may be taken pursuant to a private land deer permit and to exempt archery deer hunters, raccoon and opossum hunters and those hunting deer on their own land from wearing fluorescent clothing while hunting; P.A. 85-20 amended Subsec. (a) by eliminating the limit on consent forms issued by a landowner and exempting persons engaged in archery turkey hunting from the requirement of wearing fluorescent orange clothing; P.A. 87-180 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing concurrent archery and firearms deer hunting seasons and requiring that fluorescent orange clothing be worn by archery hunters during concurrent season; P.A. 88-98 deleted requirements for fluorescent orange clothing; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 amended Subsec. (a) to delete a requirement that deer hunters using a bow and arrow also obtain a general hunting permit pursuant to Sec. 26-27; P.A. 93-408 deleted a specification for round ball ammunition in the definition of muzzleloader; P.A. 95-352 amended Subsec. (a) to allow for free private land deer permits for siblings of the landowners; P.A. 97-250 amended Subsec. (a) to allow taking of deer under this section with bow and arrow by persons holding private land deer permits; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fee for firearms permit from $10 to $14 for residents and from $30 to $50 for nonresidents, effective January 1, 2003; P.A. 03-276 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes, to replace “ball” with “a projectile, including, but not limited to, a standard round ball, mini-balls, maxi-balls and Sabot bullets”, to delete “which uses centerfire ammunition and”, to add exception re an active full-time member of the armed forces, and to replace provision re capability of a bow to propel a certain type of arrow with “a draw weight of not less than forty pounds”, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 9, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees from $14 to $28 for residents and from $50 to $100 for nonresidents; P.A. 10-3 amended Subsec. (a) by reducing fee for residents from $28 to $19 and for nonresidents from $100 to $68 and by making a technical change, effective April 14, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 15-204 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re deer hunting on Sunday on private property by means of bow and arrow; P.A. 25-138 replaced provision authorizing hunting on Sundays for the taking of deer by bow and arrow on private property with provision authorizing hunting on Sundays on private property.
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Sec. 26-91. Taking of migratory game birds. Plan by municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization to take Canada geese. (a) The closed season, daily bag limit and possession limit for migratory game birds and the methods of taking such game birds shall be at least as stringent as the closed season, daily bag limit, possession limit and methods of taking, including allowable compositions of nontoxic shot, fixed for such birds by the regulations of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, made under the provisions of an Act of Congress Relating to Migratory Birds. Nothing in this section shall affect the right to kill or have in possession to be sold or offered for sale wild ducks, geese and brant, bred or propagated by any domestic breeder. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars. The possession of each bird or part thereof shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may authorize any municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization approved by the commissioner under the provisions of this section to take resident Canada geese at any time or place using any method consistent with professional wildlife management principles. Any such municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization shall submit to the commissioner, for the commissioner's review and approval, a plan that describes the extent and degree of the nuisance or ecological damage and the proposed method of taking. Such plan shall include prohibitions against feeding of such geese and requirements that landscaping in the area is managed in a way to be less hospitable to geese, utilizing native plantings. Prior to the implementation of such plan, the municipality, homeowner association or nonprofit land-holding organization shall provide notice of such plan to abutting landowners of such place where the plan will be implemented. Such plan shall not authorize the use of a snare.
(1949 Rev., S. 4911; P.A. 90-166, S. 2; P.A. 03-192, S. 7; P.A. 04-109, S. 15; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 12-80, S. 27; P.A. 25-138, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 90-166 authorized the closed season, bag limit and possession limit to be more stringent than the federal requirements where previously they were to be the same; P.A. 03-192 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), adding “, including allowable compositions of nontoxic shot,” therein, and added Subsec. (b) re authority of commissioner to approve plan by municipalities, homeowner associations and nonprofit land-holding organizations to take resident Canada geese; P.A. 04-109 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective May 21, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-80 amended Subsec. (a) to replace penalty of a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both with a fine of not more than $250 and make a technical change; P.A. 25-138 deleted reference to the taking of resident Canada geese other than on Sundays.
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Sec. 26-142b. Resident-held and nonresident-held principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license and commercial lobster pot fishing license. Restrictions on reissuance, transfer and renewal. Temporary incapacitation. (a) For the purposes of this section, “active” with regard to a principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license means that the license has been renewed in the current year, and “temporary incapacitation” means a reported physical or mental illness or injury that will affect a person for a limited period of time.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may reissue an active principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license in the event the license holder is temporarily incapacitated and unable to operate a vessel or perform other necessary functions associated with commercial fishing or in the event a license holder is unable to conduct commercial fishing due to exigencies related to medical care of an immediate family member. The license holder shall submit a written request for such reissuance to the commissioner and include in such submission either a medical note from a treating practitioner that confirms such temporary incapacitation of the license holder, or a note from a treating practitioner of the immediate family member who requires medical care, as applicable. Such temporary license may only be issued to a member of such license holder's immediate family or to a member of such license holder's crew, as designated by such license holder, for the remainder of the calendar year in which the temporary license is issued. The license holder may renew such license and reapply for such a temporary transfer license in the event such temporary incapacity or need for medical care of an immediate family member continues. Such temporary license shall be subject to the provisions of section 26-142a. Landings during the period of such temporary license reissue may be used to satisfy the requirements for license transfer in subsection (c) of this section, provided the licensee met all such requirements for transfer at the time of such temporary reissue.
(c) The commissioner may authorize the transfer of an active principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license, issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 26-142a, provided: (1) For purposes of an active resident-held principal or general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license: (A) The person receiving the license in such transfer is a resident of this state, and (B) the person transferring the license held the license and landed regulated species or owned a vessel that landed regulated species under the privilege of a quota-managed species endorsement associated with the license in at least five of the eight calendar years preceding the transfer request and such license-specific landings were reported to the commissioner, pursuant to section 26-157b, for not less than thirty fishing days in each year, or (2) for purposes of an active nonresident-held principal or general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license: The person transferring the license held the license and landed regulated species or owned a vessel that landed regulated species under the privilege of a quota-managed species endorsement associated with the license in at least five of the eight calendar years preceding the transfer request and such landings were reported to the commissioner, pursuant to section 26-157b, for not less than thirty fishing days in each year. Such license-specific landings shall be verified by seafood dealer reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b. The recipient of a transferred commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license shall be limited to the number of lobster pots allocated to such license, except a transferee who currently holds a commercial lobster pot fishing license, issued pursuant to subsection (f) of section 26-142a, shall be limited to the number of pots allocated to such person's currently held commercial lobster pot fishing license or principal commercial fishing license or to the transferred license, whichever is greater. The length of any commercial fishing vessel used by the recipient of a transferred license to fish with a trawl net in the waters of this state shall be not more than twenty per cent greater than the length of the largest vessel used by the person transferring the license during such qualifying period.
(d) (1) In the event of the death of the holder of an active principal commercial fishing license, general commercial fishing license or commercial lobster pot fishing license, the commissioner may authorize the transfer of such license pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, for a period of two years from the date of death of such license holder.
(2) If the deceased license holder held such license for a period of less than five complete calendar years, the commissioner may authorize the transfer of such license (A) subject to the provisions of this section, and (B) provided the deceased license holder landed regulated species or owned a vessel that landed regulated species under the privilege of a quota-managed species endorsement associated with the license in each calendar year during which the deceased license holder held the license for six months or longer, and (C) provided such landings were reported to the commissioner by the deceased license holder, pursuant to section 26-157b, for not less than thirty fishing days in each year.
(e) Upon transfer of a license, the original license holder shall become ineligible to obtain a renewal of that license. Such original license holder may acquire a new license through a subsequent license transfer.
(f) A transfer of a license under this section shall not be made while a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit held by the transferor or transferee is under suspension and a transfer shall not be authorized for any transferee who has had a commercial fishery license, registration or vessel permit revoked or suspended within the preceding twelve months.
(P.A. 95-90, S. 1, 3; P.A. 97-133, S. 1, 5; P.A. 99-266, S. 1; P.A. 00-189, S. 1, 2; 00-196, S. 55; P.A. 01-150, S. 2; P.A. 04-97, S. 4; P.A. 09-195, S. 2; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 15-52, S. 3; P.A. 23-196, S. 7; P.A. 25-170, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 95-90 effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 97-133 extended the restriction on issuance of new licenses until December 31, 1999, deleted references to registrations for marine pound nets and charter or party vessels and provided for issuance of licenses to certain family members upon death of current license holders, effective June 13, 1997; P.A. 99-266 extended until December 31, 2001, the restriction on issuance of new licenses, provided for transfers of licenses to family members upon relinquishment by current licensee, provided procedures for such transfers and expanded the eligible family members; P.A. 00-189 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein for the purposes of gender neutrality and added Subsec. (b) re transfer of an active commercial fishing license for lobster until October 1, 2002, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 00-196 deleted reference to purse seine registrations and made technical changes; P.A. 01-150 in Subsec. (a) extended restriction on issuance of new licenses until December 31, 2003, in Subsec. (b) extended authorization to transfer active commercial fishing license for lobster to October 1, 2003, and in new Subsec. (c) authorized the commissioner to authorize the transfer of an active commercial fishing license for lobster under certain circumstances; P.A. 04-97 amended Subsec. (a) to define “active” commercial finfish, fishing and lobster pot licenses and “number of lobster pots fished”, to remove December 31, 2003, deadline on issuance of new licenses, to apply issuance restrictions to commercial lobster pot licenses and to delete transfer upon death or relinquishment provisions, deleted existing Subsecs. (b) re transfer of active commercial fishing license for lobster and (c) re authorized transfer of active commercial fishing license for lobster and added new Subsecs. (c) re transfer of active licenses, (d) re transfer of licenses upon death, (e) re owner ineligibility to obtain renewal of transferred license, and (f) re transfer prohibitions, effective May 10, 2004; P.A. 09-195 amended Subsec. (c) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re transfer of active commercial fishing license under certain conditions, effective July 8, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 15-52 amended Subsec. (a) by changing “commercial finfish license” to “principal commercial fishing license”, “commercial fishing license” to “general commercial fishing license” and “commercial lobster pot license” to “commercial lobster pot fishing license” and by deleting definition of “number of lobster pots actively fished”, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re issuance of licenses, adding provision re reissuance of licenses for licensees temporarily incapacitated and replacing provision re temporary basis with provision re 12 consecutive months, amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re transfer of licenses for active resident-held license and for active nonresident-held license and deleting former Subdiv. (2) re transfer of active licenses, amended Subsec. (d) by adding provision re death of active license holder, and made technical and conforming changes, effective January 1, 2016; P.A. 23-196 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re reissue in event license holder is unable to fish due to medical care of an immediate family member, deleted references to incapacitated license holders, deleted 12 consecutive month reference, added reference to exigencies related to medical care of an immediate family member and added provision re landings during such temporary license reissue satisfying requirements for license transfer, amended Subsec. (c) to add references to owning a vessel that landed regulated species under the privilege of a quota-managed species endorsement associated with the license, changed commercial fishing vessel length reference from not more than 10 per cent greater to not more than 20 per cent greater than the length of the largest vessel used by the person transferring the license during such qualifying period and made technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re if deceased license holder held such license for a period of less than 5 complete calendar years, effective June 29, 2023; P.A. 25-170 amended Subsec. (a) to define “temporary incapacitation”, Subsec. (b) to add provisions re submissions for requests for reissuance after temporary incapacitation, and Subsec. (c) to add references to license-specific landings, effective July 8, 2025.
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Sec. 26-157f. Lobster Restoration Advisory Committee. Establishment. Membership. Appointment, procedure and compensation. Section 26-157f is repealed, effective July 8, 2025.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 46; P.A. 11-80, S. 84; P.A. 25-170, S. 13.)
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Sec. 26-159a. Regulations concerning certain sport and commercial fishing in the marine district and possession of certain species. Penalty. To establish and manage populations of marine and anadromous finfish and marine arthropods and to facilitate the establishment of unified coast-wide regulations in accordance with the provisions of fishery management plans developed pursuant to the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-265, as amended) or other regional fishery management authorities, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 governing possession of such species, sport fishing and commercial fishing by persons fishing for such species in the waters of this state or landing such species in this state, regardless of where such species were taken. Such regulations may: (1) Establish the open and closed seasons; (2) establish hours, days or periods during the open season when fishing shall not be permitted in designated waters or areas for all or limited species by all or limited methods; (3) establish legal lengths; (4) prescribe the legal methods of sport fishing for all or limited species; (5) establish for sport fishing the daily creel limit, the season creel limit and the possession limit; (6) restrict sport fishing from boats and other floating devices and sport fishing from designated areas; (7) determine the species which may be taken by commercial fishing methods, provided striped bass, Atlantic salmon, other anadromous salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout may only be taken by angling and, if taken in the waters of this state, shall not be sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale, barter or exchange; (8) prescribe the legal methods of commercial fishing; (9) determine the specifications, materials and dimensions of nets, seines, fykes, traps, pounds, trawls, trolling gear, long lines, set lines and other commercial fishing gear used in the waters of this state; (10) regulate the use and marking of commercial fishing gear, including boats used to conduct activities authorized pursuant to section 26-142a; (11) determine the number and size of finfish and marine arthropods which may be taken by commercial fishermen; (12) determine the total number and pounds of finfish and marine arthropods, by species, which may be taken by commercial fishing methods or for commercial purposes during a calendar year or lesser period; (13) prohibit the landing of protected species; (14) for a fishing derby or tournament, require that such activity be registered and that an accurate report of all fish tagged, marked and taken, time spent on an area and any other data required by the commissioner for management purposes be returned within a specified period of time. Any person who violates any regulation concerning sport fishing adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 and this section shall have committed an infraction and may pay the fine by mail or plead not guilty under the provisions of section 51-164n. Any declaration related to interstate fishery management plans that is made pursuant to a regulation adopted pursuant to this section shall remain in effect until a new declaration is made or such regulation is amended.
(1967, P.A. 203; P.A. 80-164, S. 1, 5; P.A. 82-255, S. 4; P.A. 84-66, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-5, S. 1; P.A. 93-100, S. 3, 4; P.A. 94-110, S. 3; P.A. 00-196, S. 57; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 12-80, S. 139; P.A. 13-83, S. 7; P.A. 21-124, S. 1; P.A. 25-170, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 80-164 clarified provisions, wholly replaced Subdiv. (7) which previously contained general prohibition or restriction against use of boats and other floating devices used in sport fishing and added Subdivs. (12) and (13) regulating number and pounds of finfish and crabs which may be taken by commercial fishing and prohibiting landing of protected species; P.A. 82-255 added provision specifying that violations are infractions; P.A. 84-66 increased the fines for the taking of striped bass and prohibited remission of such fines; P.A. 86-5 expanded the commissioner's authority to the regulation of all marine arthropods not solely crabs and the taking of fish for commercial purposes; P.A. 93-100 added authority re landing of fish in this state and made minor clarifications as to commissioner's authority, effective June 2, 1993; P.A. 94-110 added Subdiv. (14) re registration and reporting requirements for fishing derbies and tournaments; P.A. 00-196 deleted reference to “purse seines” in Subdiv. (9); pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-80 rephrased penalty provision re taking of striped bass and amended same by decreasing maximum term of imprisonment for subsequent violation from 60 days to 30 days; P.A. 13-83 amended Subdiv. (10) to add provisions re regulating marking of commercial fishing gear, including boats used to conduct activities authorized pursuant to Sec. 26-142a, effective October 1, 2014; P.A. 21-124 deleted provisions re exception to penalty for the taking of striped bass, effective July 7, 2021; P.A. 25-170 added provision re declarations made pursuant to regulation concerning interstate fishery management plans effective until new declaration is made or such regulation is amended, effective July 8, 2025.
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