2006 Minnesota Statutes

97C.505 MINNOWS.
    Subdivision 1. Authority to take, possess, buy, and sell. (a) Minnows may be taken,
possessed, bought, and sold, subject to the restrictions in this chapter and in rules adopted by the
commissioner under paragraph (b). A person may not take, possess, or sell minnows except for
use as bait or for ornamental or aquacultural purposes.
(b) The commissioner may adopt rules for the taking, possession, purchase, sale, and
transportation of minnows.
    Subd. 2. Continuous open season. The open season for taking minnows is continuous,
except as provided in subdivisions 3 and 4.
    Subd. 3. Closing waters. The commissioner may close any state waters for commercially
taking minnows if a survey is conducted and the commissioner determines it is necessary to close
the waters to prevent depletion or extinction of the minnows.
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1Sp1995 c 1 s 48]
    Subd. 5. Restrictions on taking from trout waters. A person may not take minnows from
designated trout lakes or trout streams without a special permit issued by the commissioner.
    Subd. 6. Approved equipment required. A person must use equipment approved by
the commissioner to possess or transport minnows for sale. This subdivision does not apply
to licensed aquatic farms.
    Subd. 7. Interference prohibited. A person may not knowingly damage, disturb, or interfere
with legal commercial minnow harvest operations.
    Subd. 8. Possession for minnow dealers. When nets and traps are lawfully set and tended,
minnows and incidentally taken game fish under four inches in length are not considered to
be in possession until the minnows or game fish are placed on a motor vehicle or trailer for
transport on land.
History: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 47; 1992 c 566 s 22; 1993 c 231 s 61; 1997 c 226 s 40; 2002
c 270 s 8