§450. Freshwater mussels; rules; penalties

            A.(1) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall adopt rules, developed and proposed by the department, to regulate the harvest of freshwater mussels. Such rules shall provide for open areas, species eligible for harvest, harvest methods, permits, fees, and other provisions necessary to implement this Section. In no case shall the annual permit fee for nonresidents be less than one thousand dollars per person harvesting freshwater mussels.

            (2) One-half of the total of all revenues derived from the annual permit fees required for commercial mussel fishermen and severance tax are hereby dedicated to the operation of the enforcement division of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the remaining one-half of the total of all revenues is hereby dedicated to the operation of the inland fisheries division of the department.

            B. The secretary shall have the authority to revoke, deny, or limit the number of permits issued as deemed necessary for proper management, control, and protection of the freshwater mussel resource.

            C. Any violation of rules pertaining to the harvest and sale of freshwater mussels shall constitute a class four violation, R.S. 56:34. Any violation of harvest reporting requirements shall constitute a class 2-B violation, R.S. 56:32(A)(2).

            D. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, barter, or exchange any freshwater mussel meats. Any violation of this Subsection shall constitute a class four violation, R.S. 56:34.

            E. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, there shall not be any shell dredging in Lake Pontchartrain or Lake Maurepas.

            Acts 1981, No. 925, §1; Acts 1992, No. 851, §1; Acts 1993, No. 99, §1, eff. June 1, 1993; Acts 1994, No. 27, §1; Acts 2021, No. 241, §1.