South Carolina General Assembly
108th Session, 1989-1990

Bill 472

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               472
Ratification Number:       662
Act Number                 541
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Crab trawling
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A541, R662, S472)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-17-740, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CRAB TRAWLING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES MAY OPEN OR CLOSE THE SEASON FOR CRAB TRAWLING DURING DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH OF EACH YEAR, TO PROVIDE THAT CRAB TRAWLING IS UNLAWFUL AT ALL OTHER TIMES, TO REQUIRE TRAWLERS' LICENSES AND PERMITS FOR PERSONS TRAWLING FOR CRABS, TO REGULATE THE SIZE AND USE OF CRAB NETS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

Crab trawling

SECTION 1. Section 50-17-740 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 50-17-740. The department may open or close all or any portion of state waters lying seaward of the trawling boundaries described by Section 50-17-610 to crab trawling during December, January, February, and March of each year. The rest of the year crab trawling is prohibited. A boat, before engaging in trawling for crabs during the open season, must have a valid trawler's license as required by Section 50-17-150 and must have a crab trawling permit issued by the department. Permits issued under this section may include specifications as to lawful fishing areas, minimum size requirements, fishing times or periods, catch limitations, and catch reporting requirements. The department may limit the number of permits issued if determined to be in the best interests of sound fisheries management. It is unlawful to use, tow, drag, or have aboard a boat trawling for crabs a net having a mesh of less than four inches stretched mesh unless the net is stored or secured in a locked bin or container below deck.

The penalty for violation of the provisions of this section is the same as prescribed in Section 50-17-100. A permit issued under this section, upon conviction for violation of this section, may be suspended or revoked by the department. A boat or vessel found trawling during the period for which its permit has been suspended or revoked, or operating without a permit, must be seized and disposed of as provided in Section 50-17-650."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 6th day of June, 1990.