23:2B-9. Disclosure of information by persons taking fisheries resources; records, books or accounts; audits

a. The commissioner may by regulation require that every person, who takes fisheries resources, provide information on the species, number, weight, and any other information pertinent to management of the resources taken in a manner prescribed and on forms supplied by the department.

b. Every person engaged in the commercial buying, packing, storing, wholesaling, marketing, or processing of any fisheries resources within the State shall keep accurate records, books or accounts showing the species, quantity, and source of fisheries resources.

c. Every record, book, or account referred to in subsection b. shall be open for inspection by the department at reasonable hours.

d. The department may audit the records, books, or accounts of any person referred to in subsection b., and of anyone who takes fisheries resources and ships directly to market in order to determine the quantity of resources taken and other information pertinent to management.

e. The records obtained by the department, and the information contained therein, shall except as otherwise provided in this section, be confidential, and the records shall not be public records and insofar as possible, the information contained in the records shall be compiled or published in such a manner so as not to disclose the business record of any person.

f. The information in the above records can be provided to other states, Federal agencies and regional fisheries agencies provided that those entities have similar confidentiality provisions that do not disclose the business record of any person.

L.1979, c. 199, s. 9, eff. Sept. 19, 1979.