Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission license program for tarpon; fees; penalties.

(1) The commission shall establish a license program for the purpose of issuing tags to individuals desiring to harvest fish of the species Megalops atlanticus, commonly known as tarpon, from the waters of the state. The tags shall be nontransferable, except that the commission may allow for a limited number of tags to be purchased by professional fishing guides for transfer to individuals, and issued by the commission in order of receipt of a properly completed application for a nonrefundable fee of $50 per tag. The commission and any tax collector may sell the tags and collect the fees therefor. Tarpon tags are valid from January 1 through December 31. To defray the cost of issuing any tag, the issuing tax collector shall collect and retain as his or her costs, in addition to the tag fee collected, the amount allowed under s. 379.352(6) for the issuance of licenses.

(2) Proceeds from the sale of tarpon tags shall be deposited in the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund and shall be used to gather information directly applicable to tarpon management.

(3) A person may not take, kill, or possess any fish of the species Megalops atlanticus, commonly known as tarpon, unless the person has purchased a tarpon tag and securely attached it through the lower jaw of the fish. A taxidermist may remove the tag during the process of mounting a tarpon. The removed tag shall remain with the fish during any subsequent storage or shipment. The purchase of a tarpon tag does not authorize the purchaser to harvest or possess tarpon in violation of commission rules. A person who violates this subsection commits a Level Two violation under s. 379.401.

(4) A person may not sell, offer for sale, barter, exchange for merchandise, transport for sale, either within or without the state, offer to purchase, or purchase any species of fish known as tarpon. A person who violates this subsection commits a Level Three violation under s. 379.401.

(5) The commission shall prescribe and provide suitable forms and tags necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(6) This section does not apply to anyone who immediately returns a tarpon uninjured to the water at the place where the fish was caught.