Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-9-.01 - Scientific Collecting Permits
(1) Purpose. The purpose of this rule is to
establish administrative procedures to be followed by applicants and/or holders
of scientific collecting permits and to discourage excessive duplication of
effort and reduce excess collecting.
(2) Definition. Unless the context clearly
requires otherwise, the following terms as used in this rule shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Collection report"
means a summary, prepared by the permittee, which details collections of the
previous year and includes data on species collected, dates, numbers, methods,
locations, and disposition of specimens;
(b) "Master permittee" means a person to whom
a scientific collecting permit has been issued, which permit allows him to
authorize students, assistants, aides, employees or field workers to assist
with collections under his supervision;
(c) "Project proposal" means a document which
outlines proposed research activities that require scientific collecting
permits and justifies the need for scientific collecting. The project proposal
shall explain specific objectives, methods, location, frequency of collection,
number of individuals needed, and the planned disposition of specimens to be
taken;
(d) "Scientific collecting
permit" means a permit which authorizes one to take, possess, capture, kill,
ship or transport any of the wildlife of this State, or the plumage, skin or
body thereof, or the nest of eggs of the same for scientific purposes according
to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Natural
Resources;
(e) "Special purpose
permit" means a permit that grants privileges beyond that of a scientific
collecting permit, i.e., possession of specimens collected for longer than
sixty days following expiration of the scientific collecting permit;
(f) "Sub-permittee" means a student,
assistant, aide, employee or field worker who is working under the supervision
of and is authorized to collect wildlife by a master permittee.
(3) Application for Permit.
(a) A specific request must be made for the
issuance of a master permit. Applicants must clearly justify their need for a
master permit.
(b) Unless otherwise
specified on the permit, scientific collecting permits shall be effective from
April 1 through March 31.
(c)
Student collectors must submit a project proposal and a written and signed
endorsement thereof by their major professor.
(d) A five dollar ($5.00) fee per permit must
accompany the application. Payment must be made by certified check or money
order made payable to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
(e) A collection report detailing the
previous year's collection activities is required with any renewal
application.
(4) Use of
Permit.
(a) Permittees and sub-permittees
must have their permit in their possession when collecting. Permits are
non-transferable, except that a master permittee may designate students,
assistants, aides, employees, or field workers assistants in collecting. All
such sub-permittees must have on their person a copy of the master permit and a
letter of authorization issued by the master permittee to them. The master
permittee shall be responsible for any violations by any such sub-permittees
and shall be responsible for maintaining all records.
(b) Instructors whose class members are
directed to collect wildlife are responsible for assuring that only a
representative sample of animals are retained and sacrificed for class
use.
(c) All live specimens
retained must be humanely cared for. All collectors are expected to use good
judgment when exercising the privileges of their collecting permit. Collectors
should be as prudent and humane as possible in collecting and capture
activities.
(d) The District Law
Enforcement Office of the Department of Natural Resources in each area of
collection must be notified at least three (3) days in advance of the date and
place specimens are to be collected, the species to be collected, the method of
collection and the permit number.
(5) Disposition of Specimens. In order to
ensure the maximum use of all specimens collected under the auspices of a
scientific collecting permit, the disposition of wildlife, their carcasses,
parts, products, or progeny thereof shall be as follows:
(a) Live, uninjured and unimpaired specimens
which could reasonably be expected to survive in the wild, shall be returned to
the location of capture and released. Records of such releases shall be
indicated on the scientific collection report.
(b) All other specimens taken and possessed
under authorization of a scientific collection permit must be denoted and
transferred to a public, scientific, or educational institution within sixty
(60) days following expiration of the permit, unless the permitee has been
issued a special purpose permit authorizing possession for a longer period of
time. Specimens not suitable for donation must be destroyed. Edible specimens
shall be donated to a charitable institution and receipt obtained. Receipts
must be attached to annual collection report.
(6) Reports.
(a) A collection report detailing the
previous year's collecting activities must be submitted with any request for
renewal of a permit. Individuals not renewing a permit must submit a report by
March 31, or within sixty (60) days after collecting, whichever is later. Data
should be provided on species collected, dates, location, and disposition of
specimens.
(b) A listing of all
publications, research papers, theses, progress reports, etc. derived from the
study of such collections, shall be submitted with the annual collection
report. Copies of such material shall be made available to the Department of
Natural Resources upon request.
(7) State parks, municipal parks, public
museums, public zoological parks, and public scientific or educational
institutions may possess law-fully acquired wildlife without a permit, provided
the wildlife may be acquired only from persons authorized by this paragraph; or
persons authorized by permit from this department; or from Federal or State
game authorities by the gift of seized, condemned, or sick or injured wildlife;
or through salvage of wildlife which have been killed as the result of
unintentional accident or an act of nature; and also provided that it shall be
unlawful to possess migratory birds without authorization from the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Notes
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