Collecting Permits

Before collecting freshwater mussels, contact the appropriate wildlife management agencies to determine if restrictions exist and if collecting permits are required.

New York State has the following rules governing the collection of freshwater mussels; other states have similar rules.

  1. It is illegal to collect living freshwater mussels in New York State without a scientific collector's permit
  2. Additional state or federal endangered species permits are required to collect any protected species
  3. Never collect freshwater mussels without knowledge of rarity status first
  4. Collecting dead shells of endangered species violates the United States Endangered Species Act, and is a federal crime

It is highly recommended that field workers contact the appropriate agencies to obtain written information on the current status and protections for individual species in each state, and on all existing restrictions on collecting. Current contact information for the appropriate state and federal agencies:

Connecticut
Wildlife Division Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 424-3011

New Jersey
Endangered and Nongame Species Program New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
P.O. Box 400
Trenton, NJ 08625-0400
(609) 292-9400

New York
Special License Unit New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
(518) 402-8985

Federal (regional office)
Special License Unit New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4752
(518) 402-8985