Sec. 47319.

(1) A person shall not market, possess, transport, or offer for sale at any time in this state, whether caught within or outside of this state, any of the following:

(a) Whitefish, of a length less than 17 inches.

(b) Lake trout, of a weight less than 1-1/2 pounds in the round, and 1-1/4 pounds when dressed.

(c) Ciscowet trout, of a weight less than 1-1/2 pounds in the round.

(d) Perch, of a length less than 8-1/2 inches in the round and filleted perch of a weight less than 1-3/4 ounces; perch with heads and tails off of a length less than 5-1/2 inches.

(e) Suckers, of a length less than 14 inches.

(f) Northern pike, of a length less than 20 inches.

(g) Catfish, of a length less than 17 inches. Catfish of not less than 15 inches in length may be taken from the waters of Lake Erie.

(h) Pike-perch (yellow pickerel), of a length less than 15-1/2 inches in the round and filleted pike-perch (yellow pickerel) of a weight less than 9 ounces. Pike-perch (yellow pickerel) not less than 13 inches in length may be taken from Lake Erie. Pike-perch (yellow pickerel) not less than 13 inches in length taken from the waters of Lake Erie may be sold or offered for sale at a dock or docks along Lake Erie. Any such pike-perch (yellow pickerel) of a length less than 15-1/2 inches shall not be otherwise offered for sale, bartered, or sold within the limits of the state.

(i) Blue pike, of a length less than 11 inches.

(j) White bass, of a length less than 9 inches.

(k) Sturgeon, of a length less than 42 inches.

(l) Black crappie, of a length less than 7 inches.

(2) Imported commercial fish species and game fish if of a size or weight or species not prohibited by the laws of the state or country where caught may be possessed, transported, offered for sale, and marketed in this state, if either of the following conditions are met:

(a) The fish are processed outside the state and sold to consumers in the same package as imported, and each package is labeled as a product of the state or country where the fish were caught.

(b) A chain of satisfactory evidence of importation is maintained through to the retailer who sells to the consumer, in a manner prescribed by the department.

(3) The measurement of the length of a fish within the meaning of this part shall be taken in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the utmost end of the tail fin. For the purpose of this part, a “fish in the round” is a fish that is entirely intact as it was taken out of the water with no part removed by dressing. A “dressed fish” is a fish with the head attached but with the gills and the entire gut or viscera (stomach, liver, intestine, gonads) removed. A “filleted fish” is a fish with the entire head, gut or viscera, gills, bones, scales, and all fins removed. The measurements of length and weight as prescribed in this part apply without any allowance made for the shrinkage of the fish. A person shall not possess on any boat, or on any other conveyance used to reach the nets from shore, any meat grinders or similar devices by the use of which the identification of the species or measurement of the individual fish is impossible. A person shall not bring ashore any fish that is so mutilated that identification and measurement is impossible. A person shall not market, possess, or offer for sale any fish illegally taken from the waters defined by this part.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA