2015 -- H 5477

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LC001079

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL PROVISIONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Shekarchi, O'Brien, Kazarian, and McKiernan

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 20-1 of the General Laws entitled "General Provisions" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     20-1-29. Trade in shark fins. – (a) For the purpose of this section:

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(1) "Shark" means any species of the subclass Elasmobranchii; and

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(2) "Shark fin" means the raw, dried or otherwise processed detached fin, or the raw,

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dried or otherwise processed detached tail, of a shark

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     (b) Except as provided in this section, no person shall possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or

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distribute a shark fin.

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     (c) A person who holds a license or permit to take or land sharks may separate a shark fin

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from a lawfully landed shark during the ordinary course of preparing the body of the shark for

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consumption, sale, trade or distribution; provided, however, that a shark fin so separated from the

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shark shall be immediately destroyed unless used by the person for the purposes of taxidermy and

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subsequent display.

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     (d) The director of the department of environmental management may issue a permit for

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the possession of a shark fin to a person conducting noncommercial, scientific research.

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     (e) Any shark fin seized by the director of the department of environmental management

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or the director's agents through the enforcement of this section shall be destroyed.

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     (f) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of

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not less than five hundred ($500) dollars, nor more than one thousand ($1,000) dollars, or by

 

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imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days or by both such fine and imprisonment;

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provided, however, that each shark fin possessed, sold, offered for sale, traded or distributed in

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violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense. Provided further a violation of this

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section by a person holding a commercial or recreational license or permit pursuant to this

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chapter shall result in the suspension or revocation of such license or permit.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL PROVISIONS

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     This act would prohibit and/or regulate the possession or sale of shark fins.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2016.

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LC001079

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