482.1 Authority of the commission.

1. The natural resource commission shall observe, administer, and enforce this chapter. The natural resource commission may adopt and enforce rules under chapter 17A as necessary to carry out this chapter.

2. The natural resource commission may:

a. Remove or cause to be removed from the waters of the state any aquatic species that in the judgment of the commission is an underused renewable resource or has a detrimental effect on other aquatic populations. All proceeds from a sale of these aquatic organisms shall be credited to the state fish and game protection fund.

b. Issue to any person a permit or license authorizing that person to take, possess, and sell underused, undesirable, or injurious aquatic organisms from the waters of the state. The person receiving a permit or license shall comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter.

c. Authorize the director to enter into written contracts for the removal of underused, undesirable, or injurious organisms from the waters of the state. The contracts shall specify all terms and conditions desired. Sections 482.4, 482.6, and 482.14 do not apply to these contracts.

d. Prohibit, restrict, or regulate commercial fishing and commercial turtle harvesting in any waters of the state.

e. Revoke the license of a licensee for up to one year if the licensee has been convicted of a violation of chapter 481A, 482, or 483A. A licensee shall not continue commercial fishing while a license issued by the natural resource commission or issued by another state is under revocation or suspension.

f. Regulate the numbers of commercial fishers and commercial turtle harvesters and the amount, type, seasonal use, mesh size, construction and design, manner of use, and other criteria relating to the use of commercial gear for any body of water or part thereof.

g. Establish catch quotas, seasons, size limits, and other regulations for any species of commercial fish or turtles for any body of water or part thereof.

h. Designate by listing species as commercial fish or turtles.

i. Designate any body of water or its part as protected habitat and restrict, prohibit, or otherwise regulate the taking of commercial fish and turtles in protected habitat areas.

3. Employees of the department may lift and inspect any commercial gear at any time and may inspect commercial catches, commercial markets, and landings, and examine sale and purchase records of commercial fishers, commercial turtle harvesters, commercial roe harvesters, commercial turtle buyers, and commercial roe buyers upon demand.

4. Employees of the department may seize and retain as evidence any illegal fish or turtles, or any illegal commercial gear, or any other personal property used in violation of any provision of the Code, and may confiscate any untagged or illegal commercial gear as contraband.

86 Acts, ch 1141, §1

C87, §109B.1

87 Acts, ch 115, §19

C93, §482.1

2009 Acts, ch 144, §21

Referred to in §481A.67