(a) A person shall not take, possess, sell, or purchase for commercial purposes any leopard shark less than 36 inches in total length.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), leopard sharks less than 36 inches in total length possessed by a person for aquarium display on or before January 1, 1994, may be retained by that person if a letter declaring that the shark was legally obtained prior to January 1, 1994, is provided to the Sacramento office of the department on or before January 1, 1995.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8388.5 states:
