South Carolina General Assembly
106th Session, 1985-1986

Bill 1120

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1120
Ratification Number:       527
Act Number:                471
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Prescribe criteria to be used by the
                           Marine Resources Division to regulate fishing
                           seasons, areas, times, equipment, and
                           effort
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A471, R527, S1120)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-17-125 SO AS TO PRESCRIBE CRITERIA TO BE USED BY THE MARINE RESOURCES DIVISION TO REGULATE FISHING SEASONS, AREAS, TIMES, EQUIPMENT, AND EFFORT; AND TO IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS RELATIVE TO NOTICE OF CHANGES IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT.

Whereas, when exercising its management authority under Chapter 17 of Title 50 of the 1976 Code, the Marine Resources Division's primary purpose is to conserve and develop coastal fishery resources, emphasizing protection of the marine-estuarine environment, in order to provide optimum sustained benefits to the citizens of the State. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Division to consider

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-17-125. In making determinations authorized by sections of this chapter pertaining to the opening and closing of fishing seasons, regulation of fishing areas, times, equipment, and effort, the Marine Resources Division shall consider:

(1) current condition and trends of the species or stocks involved;

(2) environmental factors, including water quality and climatological data;

(3) biological data, including abundance, size, and distribution of the species involved;

(4) economic conditions, including market value;

(5) potential impacts upon fisherman and other resource users; and

(6) other factors pertinent to the management and wise utilization of fishery resources.

Public notice of the opening or closing of any coastal waters or bottoms as authorized by this chapter must be given at least twenty-four hours prior to any action being taken. The division shall use all means feasible to inform interested parties, including direct mail to license holders involved, posting of notices in public places, local newspapers of general circulation, news releases, and personal and telephone communications."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.