South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 123 - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Article 5 - NON-GAME AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Section 123-151.1 - Regulations for Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)
Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 123-151.1
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
A. Spotted Turtle Protection
1. A person shall not take, possess,
transport, import, export, process, sell, purchase, offer for sale, trade,
gift, barter, ship, or receive for shipment any spotted turtle (Clemmys
guttata) without a permit from the Department.
B. Spotted Turtle Permits
1. No new permit for the possession of
spotted turtles shall be issued by the Department unless for scientific and/or
conservation purposes pursuant to Regulation
123-150,
et seq. at the discretion of the Department.
2. Any person in possession of a Spotted
Turtle Permit granted by the Department as of the adoption of this regulation
has 90 days from the adoption of this regulation to register with the
Department the current number of Spotted Turtles, both wild-caught and captive
born, in their possession. Spotted turtles will be assigned a unique number and
must be shell notched with the identification number provided by Department
personnel.
a. Permit applicants will shell
notch spotted turtles in their possession as prescribed by the Department with
the Department issued identification numbers. Permit applicants must provide
evidence of applied shell notches and signed affidavit confirming all
individual turtles in their possession were shell notched as directed by the
Department and that they understand the regulations as they pertain to spotted
turtles. Upon completion, the Department will issue a permit for the registered
spotted turtles.
3.
Current permit holders as of the date of adoption of this regulation may not
add additional spotted turtles to their collection or allow
reproduction
4. Current permit
holders' as of the date of adoption of this regulation permits are valid for
five (5) years from the date of issue; however, upon completion and
certification of marking, the Department will issue a new permit valid for 1
year. Subsequent permits will be valid for 1 year and may be renewed at the
discretion of the Department.
5.
The Department may set permit conditions consistent with the protection of
spotted turtles. Permit conditions include but are not limited to:
a. Sale, purchase, trade, exchange, gift, or
barter of any spotted turtles is prohibited.
b. No wild-caught spotted turtles may be
collected.
c. All spotted turtles
must be individually marked via shell notching with a unique identification
number issued by the Department.
d.
No unmarked spotted turtles may be possessed, unless covered by a scientific
collection permit.
e. Reproduction
of captive spotted turtles is prohibited unless authorized by the Department
for scientific or conservation purposes. Offspring from unauthorized
reproduction must be surrendered to the Department.
C. Permit Reporting Requirements
1. At the time of permit renewal, spotted
turtle permit holders will report to the Department the number of wild-caught
and captive-bred spotted turtles in their possession and provide evidence
documenting the identification number indicated by shell notch.
2. Any death or disposition of a spotted
turtle must be reported to the Department immediately.
D. The penalties for violation of this regulation are prescribed in Section 50-15-80. Each spotted turtle taken or possessed in violation of these regulations shall constitute a separate offense.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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