12.7.103    CLASSES OF PERMITS AND FEES

(1) Permit fees for a commercial fishing permit and species that may be taken are as follows:

(a) Class A--$500 per year which authorizes the taking of all nongame species designated by the department for commercial purposes;

(b) Class B--$200 per year which authorizes the taking of all nongame species designated by the department except smallmouth buffalo and largemouth buffalo for commercial purposes;

(c) Class X--may be granted for not more than 12 months with no fee required, which authorizes the taking of specific nongame species for commercial purposes on an experimental basis.

(2) The Class X permit must be replaced by a Class A or Class B permit after 12 months' operation unless a renewal is specifically authorized in writing by the commission.

(3) Class X permits may be issued to those persons who desire to determine the feasibility of a commercial fishing operation in waters and for nongame species for which there has been no history of commercial fishing. Criteria for issuance of a Class X permit are:

(a) the method of harvest is new and untried; or

(b) the operation will be carried out in waters which are difficult to run a commercial operation; or

(c) the nongame species that is to be taken is not

usually handled in the commercial trade.

History: Secs. 87-1-201, 87-1-301 MCA; IMP, Secs. 87-3-204, 87-4-602 MCA; NEW, 1978 MAR p. 994, Eff. 7/15/78; AMD, 1979 MAR p. 1487, Eff. 11/30/79.