Gar & Bowfin Legality Around the World

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Wiggles92

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Apr 25, 2009
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Author(s): Wiggles92 (Ryan Bing)
Images by: Wiggles92
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92

*** All Information Copyright 2012 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2011 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.

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Unite States


All true gars (Family Lepisosteidae) are illegal to own in the following states:
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Washington

The following states have special regulations in regards to some or all species of gar:
  • Colorado[SUP]1[/SUP]
  • Missouri[SUP]2[/SUP]
  • New Mexico[SUP]3[/SUP]
  • Pennsylvania[SUP]4[/SUP]

Please note that no lists could be found for these states:
  • Alaska
  • Delaware
  • Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
  • North Dakota
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

[SUP]1[/SUP]= Possession of true gars (or almost any other fishes, for that matter) that were illegally imported to Colorado, e.g. imported without a license, is prohibited. As a result, one must either purchase the gar(s) from a licensed in-state vendor that imported them legally or apply for an importation permit in order to legally acquire the gar(s). Gars that were produced within the state are legal to possess.
[SUP]2[/SUP]= Possession of spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus), and shortnose gar (Lepisosteus platostomus) is prohibited under some situations; these three species are legal for Missouri residents to possess provided that they were legally acquired. It is prohibited to catch, buy, sell, and/or possess wild-caught alligator gars (Atractosteus spatula) from the state, but captive-bred specimens and wild-caught specimens from outside of the state might be legal to possess with proper documentation, e.g. a receipt. The regulations do not mention the other gar species.
[SUP]3[/SUP]= The regulations imply that possession of true gars is prohibited because there is a specific list of fishes that are allowed to be owned.
[SUP]4[/SUP]= Spotted gars (Lepisosteus oculatus) are endangered in PA and possession is prohibited in almost all cases.

U.S. Gar Legality Map.png

Map Key:
Green= Legal.
Red= Illegal.
Yellow= No information could be found.
Purple= Please refer to the previously provided information for the state in question

U.S. Gar Legality Map.png
 
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Wiggles92

Dovii
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2009
6,103
42
105
31
Pennsylvania
Author(s): Wiggles92 (Ryan Bing)
Images by: Wiggles92
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92

*** All Information Copyright 2012 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2011 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.

No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.

Tasmania

All gars of the genus Atractosteus are specifically prohibited. Please note that the regulations include “American gar” and “armoured gar” among the prohibited species while only the genus Atractosteus is specifically mentioned, so all true gars may be illegal to possess.
 

Wiggles92

Dovii
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2009
6,103
42
105
31
Pennsylvania
Author(s): Wiggles92 (Ryan Bing)
Images by: Wiggles92
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92

*** All Information Copyright 2012 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2011 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.

No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.

World Map



Map Key:
Green = Gars are legal to own.
Red = Gars are illegal to own.
Purple = See the description for the country.
Brown = Refer to the U.S. gar legality information list and map.
White = Gar legality information has yet to be found. Please PM me if you know the regulations concerning owning gars in a particular country.
 

Wiggles92

Dovii
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2009
6,103
42
105
31
Pennsylvania
Author(s): Wiggles92 (Ryan Bing)
Images by: Wiggles92
Edited, Arranged, and Referenced by Wiggles92

*** All Information Copyright 2011 the authors and www.MonsterFishKeepers.com OR used with permission. All Images Copyright 2011 the correspondingly credited and used with permission.

No material (listed above) may be reproduced without permission.

United States

Bowfin (Amia calva) are illegal to own in the following states:
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Washington

The following states have special regulations in regards to bowfins:
  • Colorado[SUP]1[/SUP]
  • Maine[SUP]2[/SUP]
  • New Mexico[SUP]2[/SUP]

Please note that no lists could be found for the following states:
  • Alaska
  • Delaware
  • Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
  • North Dakota
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

[SUP]1[/SUP]= Possession of bowfins (or almost any other fishes, for that matter) that were illegally imported to Colorado, e.g. imported without a license, is prohibited. As a result, one must either purchase the bowfin(s) from a licensed in-state vendor that imported them legally or apply for an importation permit in order to legally acquire the bowfin(s). Bowfins that were produced within the state are legal to possess.
[SUP]2[/SUP]= The regulations imply that possession of bowfin is prohibited because there is a specific list of fishes that are allowed to be owned and/or sold commercially.
 
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