Subdivision 1. Ownership.
The state is the owner of wild rice and other aquatic vegetation growing in public waters. A person may not acquire a property interest in wild rice or other aquatic vegetation or destroy wild rice or aquatic vegetation, except as authorized under this chapter or section 103G.615 .
Subd. 2. License required; exemptions.
(a) Except as provided in this subdivision, a person may not harvest, buy, sell, transport, or possess aquatic plants without a license required under this chapter. A license shall be issued in the same manner as provided under the game and fish laws.
(b) A resident under the age of 18 years may harvest wild rice without a license, if accompanied by a person with a wild rice license.
(c) Tribal band members who possess a valid tribal identification card from a federally recognized tribe located in Minnesota are deemed to have a license to harvest wild rice under this section.
Subd. 3. License fees.
(a) The fees for the following licenses, to be issued to residents only, are:
(1) for harvesting wild rice:
(i) for a season, $25; and
(ii) for one day, $15;
(2) for buying and selling wild ginseng, $5;
(3) for a wild rice dealer's license to buy and sell 50,000 pounds or less, $70; and
(4) for a wild rice dealer's license to buy and sell more than 50,000 pounds, $250.
(b) The fee for a nonresident one-day license to harvest wild rice is $30.
(c) The weight of the wild rice shall be determined in its raw state.