I live in California- I heard freshwater rays are illegal here- is it true?

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All species of South American FW rays, family Potamotrygonidae, are illegal to import, sell, or possess in California. Asian FW rays and North American BW rays from the family Dasyatidae are legal in California though, as are SW rays.
 
They are illegal... you will find they are one of MANY that are.
 
Contact your FWS law department. Here's a link to get started. I've been on the go around with them to try and get them legalized. I'm a few people away from dropping the "F" bomb on the phone. Last guy I talked to said I could attempt to pass a law through government, which I'm actually thinking about doing. *sigh....

Region 1: California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, & Washington
911 NE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232-4181
(503) 2 3 1 - 6 1 2 5
 
DavidW is correct from a technical standpoint. The California Fish and Game Commission Regulations provide that the following fish species are illegal to import, transport, or possess live specimens w/o a permit. However, as a practical matter, unless you can demonstrate a valid scientific, educational, medical, or religious reason why you should have a permit, you won't get one. Typically such permits are awarded to institutions such as public aquaria, universities, etc.

(4) Class Agnatha - Jawless Fishes

(A) Family Petromyzontidae - Lampreys All nonnative species (D).

(5) Class Osteichthyes - Bony Fishes

(A) Family Percichthyidae - Temperate Basses

1. The species Morone americana (White perch) (D).

2. The species Morone chrysops (White bass) (D).

(B ) Family Clupeidae - Herrings Dorosoma cepedianum (Gizzard shad) (D).

(C ) Family Sciaenidae - Drums Aplodinotus grunniens (freshwater drum) (D).

(D) Family Characidae - Characins

1. Astyanax fasciatus (Banded tetra) (D).

2. All species of the genera Serrasalmus, Serrasalmo, Pygocentrus, Taddyella, Rooseveltiella, and Pygopristis (Piranhas) (D).

3. Hoplias malabaricus (Tiger fish) (D).

(E) Family Salmonidae - Trouts Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon) - Restricted in the Smith River watershed (D).

(F) Family Lepisosteidae - Gars All species (D).

(G) Family Amiidae - Bowfins All species (D).

(H) Family Poeciliidae - Livebearers Belonesox belizanus (Pike killifish) (D).

(I) Family Channidae - Snakeheads All species (D).

(J) Family Cyprinidae - Carps and Minnows

1. Leuciscus idus (ide) (D).

2. Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Grass carp) (D), except that permits may be issued to a person, organization or agency for possession of triploid grass carp, under conditions set forth in Section 238.6.

3. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Silver carp) (D).

4. Aristichthys nobilis (Bighead carp) (D).

(K) Family Trichomycteridae (Pygidiidae) - Parasitic Catfishes. All species (D).

(L) Family Cetopsidae - Whalelike Catfishes. All species (D).

(M) Family Clariidae - Labyrinth Catfishes All species of the genera Clarias, Dinotopterus, and Heterobranchus (D).

(N) Family Heteropneustidae (Saccobranchidae) - Airsac Catfishes All species (D).

(O) Family Cichlidae - Cichlids

1. Tilapia sparrmani (Banded Tilapia) (D).

2. Tilapia zilli (Redbelly tilapia) (D), except permits may be issued to a person or agency for importation, transportation, or possession in the counties of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial.

3. Tilapia aurea (Blue tilapia) (D).

4. Tilapia nilotica (Nile tilapia) (D).

(P) Family Anguillidae - Freshwater Eels. All species of genus Anguilla (D).

(Q) Family Esocidae - Pikes all species (D).

(R ) Family Percidae - Perches

1. Perca flavescens (Yellow perch) (D).

2. Stizostedion vitreum (Walleye) (D).

(S) Family Catostomidae - Suckers All members of the genus Ictiobus (Buffalos) (D).

(T) Family Cyprinodontidae - Killifishes Cyprinodon variegatus (Sheepshead minnow) (D).

(6) Class Elasmobranchiomorphi - Cartilaginous Fishes

(A) Family Carcharhinidae - Requiem Sharks All species of genus Carcharhinus (Freshwater sharks) (D).

(B ) Family Potamotrygonidae - River stingrays All species (D).
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Source: California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 671. These regulations are promulgated by the California Fish and Game Commission pursuant to statutory authority set forth in the California Fish and Game Code. (There's a statutory list too, but the one from the regulations is more complete. The statutes only contain the original list, whereas the regulations also include all species added by the Commission.)

You can also see the entire list of prohibited animals for California at the following link:

http://www.api4animals.org/367.htm
 
i'm pretty sure, if you move to alaska you can have there ;)
 
icthyophile said:
All species of South American FW rays, family Potamotrygonidae, are illegal to import, sell, or possess in California. Asian FW rays and North American BW rays from the family Dasyatidae are legal in California though, as are SW rays.
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So what is the difference between South American FW rays, Asian FW rays, and Saltwater rays?...It's strange how some are restricted or illegal, and some are OK?
 
Vince said:
So what is the difference between South American FW rays, Asian FW rays, and Saltwater rays?...It's strange how some are restricted or illegal, and some are OK?
Click to expand...

fresh= south amer.
dasyatis= brackish to full marine
asia= ?
 
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