South Carolina General Assembly
108th Session, 1989-1990

Bill 753

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               753
Ratification Number:       657
Act Number                 536
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Crab pots and crab pot floats
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.

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

(A536, R657, S753)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-17-716 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION AND MARKING OF CRAB POTS AND CRAB POT FLOATS OR BUOYS AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

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

Crab pots and crab pot floats

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-17-716. (A) A float or buoy attached to a crab pot or crab trap set in the waters of this State must be made of solid, buoyant material as described by this section which does not sink upon being punctured or cracked. The floats must be constructed of plastic, PVC Spongex, plastic foam, or cork. No hollow buoys or floats including plastic, metal, or glass bottles or jugs may be used, except that manufactured buoys or floats specifically designed for use with traps or pots may be hollow if constructed of heavy duty plastic material and approved by the department.

A primary float attached to a crab pot must be at least ten inches in length if rectangular, cylindrical, or conical in shape and at least five inches in diameter or width. Round or spherical primary buoys or floats must be at least six inches in diameter.

(B) A person licensed to fish crab pots under Section 50-17-210 must be assigned an identification number by the department. The assigned identification number must be painted or branded on each crab pot float in numerals of a contrasting color at least two inches in height and must be clearly legible at all times. At the option of the licensee, the buoy identification number assigned to him may be affixed to his crab pot for identification purposes. It is unlawful for a person to mark crab pots, floats, or buoys with a number other than that assigned by the department under this section.

(C) A person violating the provisions of this section, upon conviction, must be punished as provided in Section 50-17-100. In addition, a crab trap found without the identification required by law must be seized and disposed of as determined by the department."

Time effective

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

Approved the 6th day of June, 1990.