reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-128. - Carp and goldfish.

(a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, transport, transfer, possess or use any carp or goldfish for bait fish purposes. No person shall introduce any carp or goldfish into any of the inland waters of the state without first having secured a written permit from the commissioner. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars.
(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, governing the taking of carp by bow and arrow in the Thames River, the Connecticut River and its coves downstream of the Arrigoni Bridge, the Coginchaug River downstream of Route 3, including the Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Management Area, the Quinnipiac River downstream of Route 40 and the Housatonic River downstream of the Derby Dam. Until such time as regulations are adopted there shall be no closed season for carp taken by bow and arrow in said areas.
(1951, S. 2513d; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 303; P.A. 95-119, S. 8; P.A. 18-181, S. 4.)
History: 1971 act replaced reference to director of board of fisheries and game with reference to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 95-119 deleted provision re imprisonment for violation of section; P.A. 18-181 designated existing provisions re carp or goldfish for bait fish purposes as Subsec. (a), and added Subsec. (b) re Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to adopt regulations governing taking of carp by bow and arrow.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-128a. - Taking of glass eels, elver eels and silver eels prohibited. Penalty.

No person shall take or attempt to take any elver eel, glass eel or silver eel from the waters of the state. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars.
(P.A. 02-50, S. 1.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-128b. - Trout. Elimination of closed season.

Notwithstanding any provision of this title, there shall be no closed season for sport fishing of trout, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's authority to regulate the method and manner of take for such trout.
(P.A. 21-12, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 21-12 effective May 20, 2021.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-129. - Forfeiture of fishing tackle.

Any boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement used in taking or catching fish or crustaceans in violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation issued by the commissioner shall be forfeited and may be seized by the commissioner, or any authorized agent of the department, any conservation officer or any other officer authorized to make arrests, and, upon complaint alleging that any such implement was being used in violation of any such provision, the court may order such boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement to be forfeited to the state and delivered to the commissioner to be sold or destroyed within his discretion. If sold, the proceeds of such sale shall be paid by him to the State Treasurer to be credited to the General Fund. The person using or in charge of any boat, seine, net, spear, torch, fishing tackle or other implement used in violation of any such provision may be considered the owner thereof for the purpose of any complaint brought to procure condemnation or forfeiture of any such implement, when the owner is unknown to the informer or prosecuting officer. An appeal may be taken by any party aggrieved, from any judgment upon any such complaint, within fifteen days, to a return day of the superior court in the judicial district in which judgment was rendered, which shall be not less than twelve or more than thirty days after the service thereof, provided the party appealing shall give sufficient bond, with surety for costs, to the adverse party; and the appellate court may proceed in the disposition of such cause in the same manner as in any in rem proceeding.
(1949 Rev., S. 4939; 1957, P.A. 223; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 22; 1971, P.A. 179, S. 19; 872, S. 304; P.A. 76-436, S. 601, 681; P.A. 82-472, S. 102, 183.)
History: 1959 act required that proceeds from sale of forfeited implements be credited to general fund rather than to fish fund; 1971 acts changed time for taking appeal from the next or “next but one” return date to a day between 12 and 30 days after service and required that appeal be made within 15 days after judgment, and replaced references to board of fisheries and game, its members and its director with references to commissioner and department of environmental protection and department agents; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-472 eliminated obsolete reference to the “county” in which judgment was rendered in the provision concerning appeals.
Section upheld and various points discussed. 90 C. 584. Cited. 37 C. 320; 79 C. 701; 318 U.S. 151.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-130. - Sale of fish for stocking; sale of fish management commodities; sale of trout eggs.

No fish shall be furnished by the state for stocking any stream, river, pond or lake from which the taking of fish is prohibited by the owner or lessee; provided, if the state, in the opinion of the commissioner, has on hand at any time more fish than are required in any season for stocking streams, rivers, ponds or lakes from which the taking of fish is not prohibited, the commissioner may sell such surplus fish, or such fish as exceed hatchery rearing capacity, at the cost of such fish as estimated by him, to any person in the state for use for stocking any stream, river, pond or lake in the state, whether or not such water is open to public fishing. To encourage landowners to engage in fish management practices in waters over which they have control, the commissioner is authorized to sell to such landowners from stock on hand in the department, at a cost to be estimated by him, fish foods, chemicals and compounds used in fisheries management, lake and pond bottom contour maps and related incidental commodities. If the state, in the opinion of the commissioner, has on hand surplus, disease-free fish or fish eggs which exceed hatchery capacity, the commissioner may sell such surplus fish or fish eggs to commercial hatcheries, at a cost estimated by him to be competitive with the cost of such fish or fish eggs if purchased from commercial hatcheries. The proceeds of each such sale shall be remitted to the State Treasurer and shall be applied to the General Fund.
(1949 Rev., S. 4927; 1957, P.A. 281, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 17; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 305; P.A. 79-50; P.A. 90-166, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act required that proceeds from sale of listed fish management materials be deposited in general fund rather than in fish fund; 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game and its director with references to environmental protection department and commissioner; P.A. 79-50 authorized sale of surplus trout eggs by commissioner; P.A. 90-166 authorized sale of surplus fish or fish eggs where previously only “trout eggs” could be sold and deleted the requirement that the sale be made to hatcheries only in the state.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-131. - Registration of private waters. Taking of fish without license.

Any owner of private waters who desires to remove fish from such waters as provided for in this section shall apply to the commissioner for a certificate of registration of such private waters on a form furnished by the commissioner. Such applicant shall furnish the commissioner such information, under oath, as he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. There shall be a fee of seventy dollars for the examination and permanent registration of such private waters by the commissioner. Any owner of private waters which have been so registered may take, or permit guests to take, any species of fish from such waters at any season of the year, without a license, provided such waters have not been stocked at expense to the state and provided the commissioner may make regulations governing and prescribing the methods of taking such fish and the conditions under which such fish may be removed from the premises, possessed and transported. The owner of such registered waters shall notify the commissioner in writing, within forty-eight hours, of any change in ownership or other conditions which would invalidate the registration of such water as private waters under the provisions of this section. Any person who holds such a certificate of registration and who violates any provision of this section or any regulation issued by the commissioner as herein authorized shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars and the commissioner may suspend or revoke such certificate.
(1949 Rev., S. 4940; 1955, S. 2516d; 1959, P.A. 398, S. 18; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 306; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3, S. 18, 21; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 100.)
History: 1959 act required that fees be credited to general fund rather than to fish fund; 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game and its director with references to environmental protection commissioner; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-3 amended section to increase the fee for the registration of private waters under this section from $5 to $50, to make such registration permanent and to delete a requirement that all moneys received by the state therefor be deposited in the general fund; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 increased examination and registration fee from $50 to $70, effective January 1, 2003.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-132. - Privately stocked waters.

Upon request by any association owning or controlling the fishing rights in any stream or pond the waters of which are stocked with fish by such association at no expense to the state, the commissioner may prescribe, by written regulation, the open and closed seasons, the daily creel and season limits and the legal length for all species of fish taken from such waters, provided no public interest in such waters shall be thereby adversely affected and provided no weir, dam or other obstruction shall be erected for the purpose of stopping the free passage of fish up or down stream. Any person who violates any such regulation shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars and the commissioner may revoke or suspend any license issued by the commissioner to such person.
(1949 Rev., S. 4852; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 307.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-133. - Stocking with different species of fish.

Section 26-133 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 5000; 1955, S. 2545d; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 308; P.A. 83-191, S. 8, 9.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-134. - Obstructing streams.

No person shall, unless authorized by the commissioner, prevent the passing of fish in any stream or through the outlet or inlet of any pond or stream by means of any rack, screen, weir or other obstruction or fail, within ten days after service upon him of a copy of an order issued by the commissioner, to remove such obstruction.
(1949 Rev., S. 5001; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 309.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to director of board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-135. - Pond weirs and nets.

The proprietor of any private pond or lake, and the selectmen of any town in which any pond or lake is situated, or the selectmen of the towns surrounding any lake or pond located in more than one town, may, when any such pond or lake has been stocked by the commissioner with bass, landlocked salmon or any other fish not natural to such waters, construct or authorize the construction of weirs or nets to prevent the escape of any such fish and to prevent any such fish from getting into any flume or mill race and being injured or destroyed by any machinery or chemical; provided, when the water of any such pond or lake is used for manufacturing or any other purpose, any such weir or net shall be so constructed and kept clear from obstruction that it shall not interfere with the full passage of water.
(1949 Rev., S. 5002; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 310.)
History: 1971 act replaced reference to board of fisheries and game with reference to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-136. - Fishways.

(a) Upon petition of ten or more persons owning property above any dam or artificial obstruction existing on October 1, 1982, built upon any stream, the commissioner shall determine whether such dam or artificial obstruction shall be provided by the person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof, owning or controlling the dam or obstruction with a suitable fishway for the passage of fish. Upon receipt of an application for a permit to construct, rebuild or substantially repair a dam or artificial obstruction built upon any stream, the commissioner shall require the dam or artificial obstruction be provided with a fishway if such a facility is necessary to protect fisheries resources by providing access to natural spawning or nursery areas or to protect the public interest by preventing the loss of a fishery from the area of the dam or artificial obstruction. For the purposes of this section, “rebuild” or “substantially repair” means any action altering the structure of the dam or artificial obstruction, changing the use of the dam or artificial obstruction or impeding the available free passage of fish.
(b) Within thirty days from the receipt of such petition or application, the commissioner shall set a time and place for a hearing thereon, if in the opinion of the commissioner a hearing is reasonable or necessary.
(c) Upon determination that a fishway is necessary, the commissioner shall issue an order to the person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof owning or controlling the dam or obstruction to construct a fishway in the form, material, capacity, at such location and within such time as the commissioner establishes. The commissioner shall cause a copy of the order to be served on the person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof. Such fishway shall be constructed and maintained subject to the approval of the commissioner, and shall be kept open and free for the passage of such fish in such manner and during such period as the commissioner requires. If no such period is specified by the commissioner, it shall be kept open and free from April first to November first in each year.
(1949 Rev., S. 5003; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 311; P.A. 82-134, S. 1.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 82-134 divided section into Subsecs., amended Subsec. (a) to authorize the commissioner to require fishways as part of the construction, rebuilding or substantial repair of dams if necessary to protect fisheries resources, amended Subsec. (b) with technical revisions required by the changes in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (c) to authorize the commissioner to issue specifications for the dam.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-137. - Fishing near fishways.

No person shall take or attempt to take any fish, with the exception of lamprey eels during the open season for the same, within two hundred fifty feet of any fishway, except that the commissioner when he deems necessary may extend or reduce such distance and shall indicate such other distance by posting.
(1949 Rev., S. 5004; P.A. 83-191, S. 7, 9.)
History: P.A. 83-191 prohibited the taking of fish within 250 feet of any fishway where previously prohibition extended to 500 feet below fishways, eliminated exception for sport fishing and authorized the commissioner to establish another distance if appropriate.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-138. - Draining for taking fish.

No person, firm, corporation or municipality or political subdivision thereof shall intentionally drain the water from any stream, lake, pond, reservoir or other impoundment for the purpose of taking fish therefrom or shall so drain such water for any other purpose to the point where the life of fish therein is endangered unless notice has been given to the commissioner at least forty-eight hours before such draining commences and in each such case representatives of the department shall be permitted to enter upon such property to determine whether the removal or salvage of fish would be necessary, and to carry out such operations.
(1949 Rev., S. 5005; 1955, S. 2546d; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 312.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game and its director with references to environmental protection department and commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-139. - Responsibility for draining. Penalty.

The person who has authority to issue an order directing the draining of any such waters shall, for the purpose of section 26-138, be deemed to be responsible for such act if such draining takes place and the name and title of such person shall, upon the request of said commissioner, be registered with said commissioner by the secretary, or other proper officer, of any such firm, corporation, municipality or political subdivision. Any person who violates any provision of this section or section 26-138 shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 5005; 1955, S. 2546d; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 313.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-140. - Fishing rights in stream crossing highway.

Notwithstanding any taking or purchase made or to be made for highway purposes by the commissioner of transportation, the fishing rights in any flowing stream crossing such highway shall run with the land of the abutting owner, condemnee or grantor, as the case may be, unless just compensation for such fishing rights has been determined and paid and the deed or instrument conveying title expressly transferred such rights. The commissioner may, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, prohibit, regulate or curtail the exercise of such rights by any such owner from any bridge under the control of said commissioner.
(1957, P.A. 209, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 258; P.A. 82-472, S. 103, 183.)
History: 1969 act substituted commissioner of transportation for highway commissioner; P.A. 82-472 provided that the commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 and eliminated a reference to repealed sections 4-41 to 4-50, inclusive.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-141. - Fine for violation.

Any person who violates any provision of this part for the violation of which no other penalty is provided shall be fined two hundred fifty dollars. Each fish taken or possessed in violation of any provision of this part shall constitute a separate offense.
(1949 Rev., S. 4941, 5009; P.A. 95-119, S. 9; P.A. 01-115, S. 2, 5; P.A. 02-50, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 95-119 deleted provision re imprisonment and provided for a fine of $77; P.A. 01-115 changed fine to $154, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-50 increased fine to $250.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-141a. - Standards for flow of water in rivers or streams.

Whenever any dam or other structure is maintained in this state which impounds, or diverts, the waters of a river or stream or which dam or other structure affects the flow of water in such a river or stream, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, setting forth standards concerning the flow of such water in accordance with section 26-141b.
(1971, P.A. 229, S. 1; 872, S. 441; P.A. 05-142, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: Later 1971 act replaced state board of fisheries and game and water resources commission with commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 05-142 removed references to stocked rivers or streams and made technical changes; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-141c. - Violation of regulations.

After the adoption of regulations pursuant to section 26-141b, no person or municipality, as defined in section 22a-423, shall maintain any dam or structure impounding or diverting water within this state except in accordance with regulations as established by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. If the commissioner finds that any person or municipality, as defined in section 22a-423, is violating such regulations, the commissioner shall issue an order to such person or municipality to comply with the regulations. The order shall include a time schedule for the accomplishment of the necessary steps leading to compliance. If such person or municipality fails thereafter to comply with the regulations concerning flow of water, the commissioner may request the Attorney General to bring an action in the Superior Court to enjoin such person or municipality from restricting the flow of such water in accordance with such regulations.
(1971, P.A. 229, S. 3; 872, S. 443; P.A. 05-142, S. 3; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: Later 1971 act replaced water resources commission with commissioner of environmental protection; P.A. 05-142 replaced references to “standards” with references to “regulations”, replaced references to “firm or corporation” with references to “municipality”, and made technical changes; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-142. - Registration of nets. Permits to tend or operate.

Section 26-142 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4952; 1949, S. 2535d; 1957, P.A. 345, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 314; P.A. 74-348, S. 10, 11.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-142c. - Vessel permit exemption for taking lobsters or fish for personal use.

Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a) of section 26-142a, no commercial fishing vessel permit shall be required for any vessel used for taking lobsters or fish, including menhaden, for personal use only.
(P.A. 97-133, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 97-133 effective June 13, 1997.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-142d. - Dual-landing agreements for Winter I Summer Flounder.

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall enter into an agreement with the state of Rhode Island, the state of New York or both, to provide for a dual-landing agreement that authorizes commercial fishermen who are licensed in this state and Rhode Island or New York, as applicable, to take fish from state and federal waters in an amount that exceeds such commercial fisherman's daily limit in an agreement state but not more than the total daily limit for such commercial fisherman among the states that are a party to such agreement. Such agreement shall be limited to the Winter I Summer Flounder season. Pursuant to such agreement, such commercial fisherman shall separate such take by the daily limits allowed in each such state and complete any such landing in each state by the hour specified in such agreement. Any such agreement shall allow for such agreement to be extended to commercial fishermen licensed in this state and any other state with which Connecticut shares either a water or land boundary. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may board the vessel of any commercial fisherman who makes a take pursuant to such an agreement in order to inspect for compliance with the terms of any such agreement.
(P.A. 19-28, S. 1.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-143. - Nets to be marked.

Section 26-143 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4955; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 315; P.A. 74-348, S. 10, 11.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-143a. - Nets to be buoyed and marked. Boats to display license or registration flag.

Section 26-143a is repealed, effective October 1, 2014.
(P.A. 74-348, S. 4, 11; P.A. 13-83, S. 12.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-144 to 26-148. - Nets for taking tomcod or frost fish. Smelt and tomcod; nets, registration and fee. Taking of smelt and tomcod; open season, net specifications, designated time and area, penalty. Eel pots. Shad; nets; penalty. Set nets for taking shad in Connecticut and Farmington Rivers.

Sections 26-144 to 26-148, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4953, 4956–4959; 1949, S. 2537d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 42; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 316–319; P.A. 74-348, S. 5, 6, 10, 11; P.A. 75-567, S. 53, 80; P.A. 80-164, S. 4, 5.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-150 to 26-153. - Registration of fishing boat or vessel; operator's license; fees. Boats to display license number. Drag nets. Drag net or seine, license to operate, required. Mesh of nets.

Sections 26-150 to 26-153, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4963–4965, 4968; 1971, P.A. 125; 872, S. 321–323; P.A. 74-348, S. 9–11; P.A. 80-164, S. 4, 5; P.A. 83-479, S. 5, 6.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-154a. - Use of purse seines in Long Island Sound.

Section 26-154a is repealed, effective October 1, 2000.
(1972, P.A. 44, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-193, S. 1, 2; P.A. 00-196, S. 65.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-155. - Fish oil or fertilizer.

No person shall render any food fish into oil or fertilizer. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the rendering and treatment of fish into food for human or animal consumption.
(1949 Rev., S. 4967; September, 1950, S. 2540d.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-156 and 26-157. - Crabs. Lobsters.

Sections 26-156 and 26-157 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4969–4971; 1951, S. 2541d; 1955, S. 2541d, 2542d; 1957, P.A. 283, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 27, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 325, 326; 1972, P.A. 47; P.A. 74-348, S. 10, 11; P.A. 80-164, S. 4, 5.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157c. - Regulations governing the taking and possession of lobsters. Regulations implementing the lobster trap allocation buy-back program.

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, governing the taking of lobsters in the waters of this state and the possession of lobsters in the state regardless of where taken for the purpose of conserving and managing the populations of American lobster.
(b) Not later than April 1, 2007, the commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the lobster trap allocation buy-back program established pursuant to section 26-157h. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for a payment of fifteen dollars for each allocated lobster trap permanently retired from the lobster fishery. Such regulations shall be limited to the buy-back of lobster trap allocations of resident commercial lobster fishermen holding lobster trap allocations issued by the commissioner and who have reported lobster landings between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2005, as determined by the commissioner, based on reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b, or who have received license transfers with trap allocations, and shall not require the buy-back of lobster traps. For purposes of this subsection, “lobster trap” means lobster pot.
(P.A. 85-434, S. 1, 6; P.A. 90-274, S. 11; P.A. 06-187, S. 49; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 90-274 added provision making the section applicable to the possession as well as the taking of lobsters in the waters of the state; P.A. 06-187 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re regulations to implement lobster trap allocation buy-back program, effective May 26, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157d. - Lobster restoration program. Regulations.

(a) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish a lobster restoration program to restore lobster spawning stock by increasing lobster egg production by providing that mature female lobsters landed by commercial methods be marked with a v-shaped notch in the tail, released and protected from future harvest.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section, each person engaged in commercial fishing who lands, marks and releases lobsters and who reports such landing, marking and releasing pursuant to section 26-157b shall be compensated, if funds become available, at average market value, as determined by the commissioner, for each lobster released.
(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may select a contractor, in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and department procedures, to implement the provisions of the program established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The department shall not be responsible for the training, insurance or supervision of employees of the contractor. The contractor shall be compensated by the department on a per trip basis and not per lobster. Employees of the contractor shall accompany persons engaged in commercial fishing who participate in the program and only such employees shall mark each lobster. Such persons engaged in commercial fishing shall not mark the lobsters and shall not be employed by the contractor to mark lobsters for fishing trips during which such persons are participating in the program.
(d) The program established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall (1) be limited to state residents licensed to participate in commercial fishing by the department pursuant to this title, (2) require that fishermen and employees of the contractor sign a statement certifying the number of lobsters landed, marked and released for purposes of the program for each trip, (3) require such fishermen and contractor to collect and submit to the department all information deemed necessary by the department to verify compliance with the program, (4) require that all lobsters landed, marked and released for purposes of the program be allocated to the fishermen as catch for purposes of any other lobster management program under the jurisdiction of the state or federal government, and (5) provide that each participant in the program be selected based on the area fished, seasonal nature of such fishing and volume of landings by such participant prior to such participant's application to the program.
(P.A. 05-281, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 05-281 effective July 13, 2005; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Environmental Protection” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157e. - Commissioner to pursue lobster restoration funds. Administration of funds. Entering into contracts.

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall do all things necessary to apply for, qualify for and accept any federal or state funds made available or allotted under any federal or state act for the restoration of lobster stock, or any other federal or state acts, projects, programs or activities related thereto. The commissioner shall administer any such funds allotted to the commissioner in accordance with federal law and the law of this state. The commissioner may enter into contracts with the federal government or any state government concerning the use, maintenance and repayment of such funds under any such federal or state act.
(P.A. 05-281, S. 2; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 05-281 effective July 1, 2005; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157f. - Lobster Restoration Advisory Committee. Establishment. Membership. Appointment, procedure and compensation.

(a) There is established a Lobster Restoration Advisory Committee to advise the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection on matters relating to the development of a lobster v-notch conservation program to enhance recovery and rebuilding of lobster stock in Long Island Sound.
(b) The committee shall be comprised of the following eleven members: (1) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee, (2) the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's designee, (3) the state's administrative commissioner to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, (4) the state's legislative commissioner to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, (5) the state's commissioner who has been appointed by the Governor to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, (6) a representative of the Southern New England Fishermen's and Lobsterman's Association, (7) a representative of the Connecticut Commercial Lobstermen's Association, (8) a representative of the Long Island Western End Lobstermen's Association, (9) a representative of the state vocational aquaculture school known as the Sound School in New Haven, (10) a representative of a state vocational aquaculture school in Bridgeport, and (11) a representative of the Connecticut Seafood Council.
(c) The committee shall be appointed jointly by the Commissioners of Energy and Environmental Protection and Agriculture, after receiving appointment nominations from each group listed in subsection (b) of this section, not more than thirty days after May 26, 2006. The committee shall elect its own chairman and such other officers and adopt such rules of procedure as it may deem appropriate. Members of said committee shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses in the performance of their duties.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 46; P.A. 11-80, S. 84.)
History: P.A. 06-187 effective May 26, 2006; P.A. 11-80 changed “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157g. - Lobster v-notch restoration program.

If the Lobster Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approves a lobster v-notch restoration program having equivalent conservation value to the approved or future requirements of the Commission's Lobster Management Plan for Lobster Management Area 6 on or before November 1, 2006, then one hundred per cent of any appropriations made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, for lobster stock recovery and conservation shall be made for the implementation of such program. If said Lobster Management Board does not approve such lobster restoration program on or before November 1, 2006, then sixty per cent of any such appropriations shall be used to implement the provisions of subsection (b) of section 26-157c and forty per cent of any such appropriation shall be used to implement the provisions of section 26-157i.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 47.)
History: P.A. 06-187 effective May 26, 2006.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157h. - Lobster trap allocation buy-back program.

Within available appropriations, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish a lobster trap allocation buy-back program to permanently retire lobster traps from the lobster fishery. The program shall provide for payment of fifteen dollars for each allocated lobster trap permanently retired from the lobster fishery.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 48; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 06-187 effective May 26, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157i. - Economic assistance program for resident commercial lobster fishermen. Establishment. Regulations.

(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish an economic assistance program for resident commercial lobster fishermen.
(b) Not later than April 1, 2007, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the economic assistance program established in subsection (a) of this section for any resident commercial lobster fisherman who held a Connecticut license to take lobsters in 2006 and who held a lobster trap allocation issued by the commissioner, or who has received a license transfer with a trap allocation, and who, not later than January 24, 2006, reported the landing of lobsters between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005, as determined by the commissioner, based on reports submitted pursuant to section 26-157b. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for direct payment to such lobsterman based on the contribution such lobsterman's lobster catch made to the total qualifying catch of all qualifying lobster fishermen from Long Island Sound with any gear between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005, provided, in cases in which more than one fisherman has reported on the same catch report form, catches are attributed and payments made to the lead license holder indicated on the form.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 50; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 06-187 effective May 26, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-157j. - Seafood dealer, wholesaler or shipper possession and sale of undersized lobsters. Conditions. Documentation.

A seafood dealer, wholesaler or shipper may possess and sell lobsters less than the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's American Lobster Fishery Management Plan Lobster Management Area 6 minimum legal length, as defined in regulations adopted pursuant to section 26-157c, provided: (1) Such lobsters are not taken from said Lobster Management Area 6 waters or landed in this state, regardless of where such lobsters were taken, (2) such lobsters are not less than the minimum legal length in effect in the waters of the lobster management area or nation of origin where taken and not less than three and one-quarter inches carapace length regardless of where taken, (3) such lobsters are not bartered, exchanged, sold or offered for sale to retail consumers in this state, and (4) such seafood dealer, wholesaler or shipper in possession of such lobsters possesses a manifest, bill of lading, invoice, purchase order or other written documentation identifying the state, lobster management area or nation of origin, as applicable, where such lobsters were received, the number of such lobsters received that are less than said Lobster Management Area 6 minimum legal length and the date such lobsters were received. Such documentation shall be retained by the seafood dealer, wholesaler or shipper for a period of six months from the date such lobsters were received and shall be made available to law enforcement officers upon request.
(P.A. 06-187, S. 51.)
History: P.A. 06-187 effective May 26, 2006.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-158. - Sale of lobsters.

No person who has taken any lobsters from the waters of this state or any other state which requires a license to take lobsters shall deliver, sell, exchange or possess in this state, or offer for delivery, sale or exchange in this state, any lobsters unless he has in his possession a license to take lobsters issued under the provisions of the laws of the state in whose waters such lobsters were taken.
(1949 Rev., S. 4972.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-159c. - Commissioner to conduct public hearings in coastal areas.

Prior to the adoption of any regulation under subsection (g) of section 26-142a or section 26-159a, the commissioner or his designated representative shall conduct a public hearing or hearings in those coastal areas where persons substantially affected by such regulation and having an interest therein may be heard. The commissioner shall cause notice of such hearing or hearings to be published at least once not more than thirty days and not fewer than ten days before the date set for such hearing or hearings in a newspaper or newspapers having general circulation in those areas which may be affected by such regulation.
(P.A. 80-164, S. 3, 5; P.A. 15-52, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 15-52 made a technical change, effective January 1, 2016.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-160. - Extension zones.

The commissioner may establish zones on either side of the lines fixed by him to distinguish inland waters from the waters of the marine district, in which persons licensed to fish with a net in inland waters or to fish in the waters of the marine district, as the case may be, may fish under such regulations as may be made by the commissioner, without the payment of an additional fee.
(1949 Rev., S. 4974; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 327.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-161 to 26-163. - Commercial taking of yellow perch. Northern fluke or summer flounder. Alewives and glut herring.

Sections 26-161 to 26-163, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 4976; 1949, S. 2529d; 1951, S. 2514d, 2543d; P.A. 73-129, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-96; P.A. 80-164, S. 4, 5.)
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-164. - Inspection of license.

Upon request of the commissioner or any conservation officer or officer authorized to serve criminal process, any licensee shall deliver his license to such person for examination and shall disclose the number and location of each net and permit the inspection of the cargo or any of the contents of any boat used by the licensee.
(1949 Rev., S. 4977; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 328.)
History: 1971 act replaced reference to director of state board of fisheries and game with reference to environmental protection commissioner.
2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 26 - Fisheries and Game › Chapter 490 - Fisheries and Game › Section 26-167. - Stealing fish, lobsters or equipment. Penalty.

No person except the licensed owner, an authorized licensed agent of the owner, the commissioner or authorized agents of the department or law enforcement officers empowered to serve criminal process shall remove or attempt to remove any fish or lobster from any pound, weir, net, pot or other device used for the purpose of taking or retaining fish or lobsters. No person shall have in his possession or set or cause to be set any trap, pot or other device for taking fish or lobsters which belong to another without having written authorization from the owner or his authorized agent. Any trap, pot or other device so set and not identified by the owner's number, which shall be assigned by the commissioner, shall, for the purpose of this section, be considered prima facie evidence of having been stolen or illegally possessed by the person setting the same. Any unauthorized person who lifts, raises, draws or molests, or assists in so doing, any trap, pot or other device set for the purpose of taking fish or lobsters, or steals any fish or lobster therefrom except as provided herein, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or be imprisoned not more than six months or both. Any trap, pot or other device and accessories thereto used in violation of this section shall be forfeited to the state and shall be sold or otherwise disposed of by the commissioner or his authorized agent.
(1949 Rev., S. 4980; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 330; P.A. 79-125.)
History: 1971 act replaced references to board of fisheries and game, its director, members and their agents with references to environmental protection department and commissioner and their agents; P.A. 79-125 increased maximum fine from $100 to $200.
Intent of statute is to make fish or lobsters which have been caught the subject of larceny and it is not essential to prove the identity of the owner of the stolen property. 37 CS 809.