§ 15605 Atlantic Salmon Import Exceptions

• •You can keep Atlantic salmon or roe that were imported or possessed before Feb 22, 1988 in the Smith River watershed if you had written department approval.
• •Importing dead Atlantic salmon or nonviable roe for human food is allowed if you hold the required licenses.
• •The statute does not block these actions; it only sets the conditions for them.

A fisherman who bought Atlantic salmon at a market in 1987 and kept it in his freezer, or a company that imports dead salmon for grocery stores and has the required department license.

Because the salmon was imported before February 22, 1988 and the fisherman had department approval, the law lets him keep it. If a company wants to bring in dead salmon for sale, it must have the proper license, which the law permits.