(a) Permit required.--No person shall fish in Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries, including waters that flow into those tributaries, without first procuring an annual special permit to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries or a combination trout permit and Lake Erie permit.
(b) Fee.--The annual fee and the issuing agent fee for the special permit issued in this section shall be as provided in section 2715 (relating to license, permit and issuing agent fees).
(c) Exemptions.--Persons entitled to free fishing licenses under section 2707 (relating to disabled veterans) and persons exempt from fishing license requirements under Chapter 27 (relating to fishing licenses) are exempt from the requirements of this section. Holders of Senior Resident Lifetime Fishing Licenses issued under section 2701 (relating to resident fishing licenses) shall meet the requirements of this section by purchasing one annual special permit which shall be valid for the licensee's lifetime.
(d) Regulations.--The commission may promulgate regulations for the display of the special permit and manner in which it may be affixed to the fishing license or carried with the licensee.
(e) Penalty.--Any person violating the provisions of this section or the regulations promulgated hereunder commits a summary offense of the third degree.
(f) Proceeds from special permit.--(Deleted by amendment).
(f.1) Lake Erie permits.--
(1) The proceeds from the fees for the special permits to fish in Lake Erie and tributaries as provided for under section 2715(a.1)(4) (relating to license, permit and issuing agent fees) and $6 of the fees for the combination trout permits and Lake Erie permits as provided for under section 2715(a.1)(5) shall be deposited into a restricted account within the Fish Fund.
(2) The funds in the restricted account shall be used to provide public fishing access or to protect or improve fish habitat on or at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries, including waters that flow into those tributaries. The funds may also be used for other projects that support public fishing on or at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and their tributaries.
(g) Termination of permit requirement.--(Deleted by amendment).
(h) Accounting.--(Deleted by amendment).
(Oct. 5, 1994, P.L.534, No.79, eff. imd.; June 29, 2002, P.L.672, No.101, eff. imd.; Nov. 29, 2004, P.L.1286, No.159, eff. imd.; Aug. 27, 2009, P.L.377, No.40, eff. 60 days; Oct. 24, 2012, P.L.1323, No.167, eff. imd.; July 10, 2020, P.L.604, No.56, eff. imd.)
2020 Amendment. Act 56 amended subsecs. (a) and (f.1).
2004 Amendment. Section 7 of Act 159 provided that Act 159 shall apply to all fees for licenses and permits issued on or after January 1, 2005.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 29 - Special Licenses and Permits
Section 2901 - Eel chute licenses (Deleted by amendment)
Section 2903 - Boat and net licenses for boundary lakes
Section 2904 - Permits for protection and management of particular fish
Section 2905 - Permits for scientific and educational fish collecting activities
Section 2906 - Permits for use of explosives
Section 2907 - Expiration of licenses and permits
Section 2907.1 - Tagged fish contests on boundary lakes
Section 2907.2 - Lake Erie fishing permits