§195D-3  Determination by the departmentrelating to conservation of particular species.  (a)  The department isauthorized to conduct investigations on any species of aquatic life, wildlife,and land plants in order to develop information relating to their biology,ecology, population, status, distribution, habitat needs, and other limitingfactors to determine conservation measures necessary for their continuedability to sustain themselves successfully.

(b)  The department is authorized to adoptpursuant to chapter 91, rules relating to the taking, possession,transportation, transplantation, importation, exportation, processing, selling,offering for sale, or shipment of any species of aquatic life, wildlife, andland plant for the purpose of conserving the same.

(c)  Except as permitted by rules adopted bythe department, it shall be unlawful for any person to take, possess,transport, transplant, export, process, sell, offer for sale, or ship anyspecies of aquatic life, wildlife, or land plants deemed by the department tobe in need of conservation pursuant to this section. [L 1975, c 65, pt of §1;am L 1983, c 111, §4; am L 1988, c 68, §1]