§20-2-64. Regulating release of fish, water animal and other aquatic organisms; stocking permit.

(a) It is unlawful for any person: (i) To release any fish, water animal or other aquatic organism, alive or dead, or any part, nest or egg thereof into the waters of this state except as authorized by a stocking permit issued by the director; or (ii) to take, give or receive, or agree to take, give or receive, any fish, water animal or other aquatic organism taken from the waters of this state for purposes of stocking any commercial fishing preserve, or other privately owned ponds, for commercial purposes: Provided, That  this subsection  does not restrict:

(1) The release of fish, water animal or other aquatic organism into the waters of this state from which they were taken by lawful methods; or

(2) The release of native or established species of fish in privately owned ponds for noncommercial purposes.

(b) A stocking permit is not required for the stocking of trout in waters of the state provided that the trout originate from a source within the state or meet the disease-free certification requirements for imported salmondiae set forth in section thirteen of this article.

(c) A stocking permit is not required for the stocking of black bass provided that the Division of Natural Resources is notified prior to stocking and is provided a disease-free certification.

(d) It is unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, import, bring or cause to be brought or imported into this state or release into the waters of this state, in a live state, any bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi), diploid white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) or snakehead (Channa spp.), gametes or eggs of the same, or any hybrids of these species. The director may not issue a stocking permit to any person for the species and their hybrids listed in this subsection, but may issue written authorization for the importation or possession of these species or their hybrids into this state if the importation or possession does not violate any federal law and if the use is limited to scientific research.