sec.97Restriction on taking etc. of native wildlife in areas of major interest and critical habitats

### sec.97 Restriction on taking etc. of native wildlife in areas of major interest and critical habitats This section applies to native wildlife (other than protected wildlife) in an area that is identified under a regulation or conservation plan as, or including— a critical habitat; or an area of major interest. A person, other than an authorised person, must not take or interfere with the wildlife, other than under— the regulation or conservation plan; or a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation. Maximum penalty—3,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment. A person, other than an authorised person, must not use or keep the wildlife, other than under— the regulation or conservation plan; or a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation or the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 . Maximum penalty—3,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment. It is a defence to a charge of taking or interfering with wildlife in contravention of subsection (2) to prove that— the taking or interference happened in the course of a lawful activity that was not directed towards the taking or interference; and the taking or interference could not have been reasonably avoided. Subsection (4) does not allow a person to use or keep the wildlife. s 97 amd 2000 No. 44 s 30 ; 2005 No. 53 s 141 ; 2013 No. 50 s 13 ; 2015 No. 5 s 281 (sec.97-ssec.1) This section applies to native wildlife (other than protected wildlife) in an area that is identified under a regulation or conservation plan as, or including— a critical habitat; or an area of major interest. (sec.97-ssec.2) A person, other than an authorised person, must not take or interfere with the wildlife, other than under— the regulation or conservation plan; or a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation. Maximum penalty—3,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment. (sec.97-ssec.3) A person, other than an authorised person, must not use or keep the wildlife, other than under— the regulation or conservation plan; or a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation or the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 . Maximum penalty—3,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment. (sec.97-ssec.4) It is a defence to a charge of taking or interfering with wildlife in contravention of subsection (2) to prove that— the taking or interference happened in the course of a lawful activity that was not directed towards the taking or interference; and the taking or interference could not have been reasonably avoided. (sec.97-ssec.5) Subsection (4) does not allow a person to use or keep the wildlife. - (a) a critical habitat; or - (b) an area of major interest. - (a) the regulation or conservation plan; or - (b) a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation. - (a) the regulation or conservation plan; or - (b) a licence, permit or other authority issued or given under a regulation or the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 . - (a) the taking or interference happened in the course of a lawful activity that was not directed towards the taking or interference; and - (b) the taking or interference could not have been reasonably avoided.