(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, no person shall possess any live fish of the various species:
(a) Of the family Clariidae, commonly known as walking catfish; or
(b) Of the subfamily Serrasalminae of the family Characidae, commonly known as caribe or piranha.
(2) A public park, zoo, museum or educational institution may possess any of the fish referred to in subsection (1) of this section for educational, medical, scientific or exhibition purposes if the organization first obtains a permit from the State Fish and Wildlife Commission. The commission may refuse to issue the permit if the commission finds that the organization requesting the permit has physical facilities for holding the fish that are inadequate to prevent their escape from confinement.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not prohibit the possession or require a permit for the possession of live fish that are of the genera Pygocentrus, Serrasalmus or Pristobrycon that are carnivorous fish in the subfamily Serrasalminae, from the family Characidae, commonly known as piranha or caribe. [1973 c.723 §97; 1995 c.355 §1]
Section: Previous 498.222 498.225 498.228 498.230 498.234 498.235 498.240 498.242 498.245 498.246 498.247 498.248 498.250 498.252 498.254 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008