(1) All wildlife, freshwater fish, and saltwater fish seized under the authority of this chapter, any other chapter, or rules of the commission shall, upon conviction of the offender or sooner in accordance with a court order if the court so orders, be forfeited to the investigating law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency may elect to retain the wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish for the agency’s official use; transfer it to another unit of state or local government for official use; donate it to a charitable organization; sell it at a public sale pursuant to s. 705.103; or destroy the wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish if none of the other options is practicable or if the wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish is unwholesome or otherwise not of appreciable value. All illegally possessed live wildlife, freshwater fish, and saltwater fish that are properly documented as evidence as provided in s. 379.3381 may be returned to the habitat unharmed. Any unclaimed wildlife, freshwater fish, or saltwater fish shall be retained by the investigating law enforcement agency and disposed of in accordance with this subsection.

(2) All furs or hides or fur-bearing animals seized under the authority of this chapter shall, upon conviction of the offender, be forfeited and sent to the commission, which shall sell the same. If any such hides or furs are seized and the offender is unknown, the court shall order such hides or furs sent to the commission, which shall sell such hides and furs.

(3) Except as otherwise provided by law, the proceeds of any such sale under this section shall be deposited in the State Game Trust Fund or the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund.

(4) Any state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency that enforces or assists the commission in enforcing this chapter, which enforcement results in a forfeiture of property as provided in this section, is entitled to receive all or a share of any property based upon its participation in the enforcement.

History.—s. 66, ch. 13644, 1929; CGL 1936 Supp. 1977(66); s. 2, ch. 61-119; s. 225, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 98-391; s. 157, ch. 99-245; s. 123, ch. 2008-247; s. 34, ch. 2009-86.

Note.—Former s. 372.73.