Sec. 66.015.  INTRODUCTION OF FISH, SHELLFISH, AND AQUATIC PLANTS.  (a)  In this section, "public water" means the bays, estuaries, and water of the Gulf of Mexico within the jurisdiction of the state, and the rivers, streams, creeks, bayous, reservoirs, lakes, and portions of those waters where public access is available without discrimination.
(b)  No person may place any species of fish, shellfish, or aquatic plant into the public water of the state without a permit issued by the department.
(c)  The department shall establish rules and regulations governing the issuance of permits under this section.
(d)  Subsection (b) of this section does not apply to native, nongame fish as defined by the commission, except in waters designated by the commission where threatened or endangered fish are present.
(e)  A person violates this section if fish, shellfish, or aquatic plants the person possesses or has placed in nonpublic water escape into the public water of the state and the person does not hold a permit issued under this section.
(f)  An employee of the department acting at the direction of the commission is exempt from this section.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 637, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1256, Sec. 105, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.