§ 10-100 — Release of aquatic life

(a) It shall be unlawful to release any aquatic life into the wild in this State without first securing permission of the Department to do so, except that the owner of a body of water may release aquatic life indigenous to the State of Illinois into waters wholly upon his or her property. The Department shall have the authority to promulgate necessary rules and regulations, under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, regulating the possession, transportation, and shipping of aquatic life not indigenous to the State of Illinois. All aquatic life may be immediately returned unharmed from where they were taken. A violation of this subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor. (b) It is unlawful to possess, transport, or release any live specimen or viable gametes of any species listed as injurious by administrative rule, unless authorized by that rule. A violation of this subsection (b) is a Class A misdemeanor.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 98-1044, eff. 1-1-15 .)