Section 63.15. Field dressing and disposal of fish

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful to possess a fish in any form or condition other than in the whole or having the entrails removed while on shore, along the waters of this Commonwealth, onboard a boat or on a dock, pier, launch area or a parking lot adjacent thereto.

(b) Fish may be processed fully if they are being prepared for immediate consumption.

(c) This section does not apply to fish processed at a fish cleaning station officially recognized under § 63.15a (relating to officially-recognized fish cleaning stations).

(d) Provided that the requirements of this subsection are met, this section does not apply to fish processed by a permitted charter boat/fishing guide operation. The charter boat operator or fishing guide may fully process the fish at any time provided the charter boat operator or fishing guide retains the carcass until possession of the fish is transferred to the customer on shore. The charter boat operator or fishing guide shall give the customer who receives the processed fish a signed, dated receipt on the form prescribed by the Commission.

(e) This section does not apply to fish caught or sold in compliance with Chapter 31 of the code (relating to regulated fishing lakes).

(f) This section does not apply to fish caught under a Lake Erie commercial license issued consistent with Chapter 29 of the code (relating to special licenses and permits) after the fish reach established retail or wholesale markets.

(g) It is unlawful to discard any fish carcass or parts thereof into the waters of this Commonwealth or upon any public or private lands contiguous to the waters unless one of the following conditions apply:

(1) On lands with the permission of the landowner.

(2) Where fish are properly disposed into suitable garbage or refuse collection systems or at officially recognized fish cleaning stations.

The provisions of this § 63.15 adopted March 5, 1982, effective March 6, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 870; amended February 4, 1983, effective January 1, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 617; amended January 6, 1984, effective January 7, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 46; amended December 22, 1995, effective December 23, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 5970; amended December 7, 2001, effective December 8, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 6669; amended February 27, 2004, effective February 28, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 1231; amended March 10, 2006, effective March 11, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 1124. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (316051).

Notation

Authority

This section amended under the Fish and Boat Code, 30 Pa.C.S. § 2102.