Sec. 48724.

(1) As used in this section, “fish cleaning station” means an operation or location used to clean salmon for sport fishers.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3)(c), a person shall not purchase, sell, or otherwise exchange anything of value for raw or unprocessed salmon eggs unless the person is licensed pursuant to section 47333 and the sale, purchase, or exchange of the raw or unprocessed salmon eggs is made with another person who is also licensed pursuant to section 47333.

(3) A person who operates or is the agent of an operator of a fish cleaning station shall not do any of the following:

(a) Accept raw or unprocessed salmon eggs except from whole salmon, known as salmon in the round, or eggs salvaged from salmon cleaned at the station.

(b) Operate a fish cleaning station that sells raw or unprocessed salmon eggs without a current and valid permit issued by the department.

(c) Buy, barter, or otherwise exchange anything of value for raw or unprocessed salmon eggs. This subdivision does not prohibit the operator of a fish cleaning station or his or her agents from exchanging the service of cleaning salmon in exchange for the eggs in the salmons' carcasses or from charging a fee for cleaning salmon.

(d) Buy or sell salmon carcasses taken by a person licensed under part 435.

(4) A person issued a permit to operate a fish cleaning station shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(a) Raw or unprocessed salmon eggs may only be collected and stored at the location of the fish cleaning station specified in the permit.

(b) The fish cleaning station shall be licensed in accordance with the food processing act of 1977, Act No. 328 of the Public Acts of 1978, being sections 289.801 to 289.810 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and operated in compliance with the Michigan food law of 1968, Act No. 39 of the Public Acts of 1968, being sections 289.701 to 289.727 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, only when the salmon eggs or salmon, or both, are sold or given to another person for human consumption.

(c) Disposal of offal and unwanted salmon carcasses shall be in a manner approved by the local health department.

(d) A permit holder shall accept from sport fishers all salmon carcasses that are brought to the station and shall hold and dispose of them and their offal only in a manner approved by the local health department.

(e) As a condition of his or her permit, a permit holder whose fish cleaning station is located on state owned land shall provide free access to the fish cleaning station facilities to anglers who wish to use the facilities to clean their own salmon catch.

(5) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the selling or buying of chemically treated salmon eggs in the form of spawn sacks or spawn bags.

(6) If the department finds that a person is in violation of this section or a permit issued under this section, the department may issue an order requiring the person to comply with the permit. In addition to the penalties provided for in this part, the department or its agent, the attorney general, or a person may seek injunctive relief for a violation of this section or a permit issued under this section.

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