South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 668


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       668
Type of Legislation:               Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19970416
Primary Sponsor:                   Ravenel 
All Sponsors:                      Ravenel 
Drafted Document Number:           kgh\15132htc.97
Companion Bill Number:             3875
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Agriculture, Natural Resources
                                   & Environmental Affairs Com 20
                                   HANR
Subject:                           Shrimp trawling licenses,
                                   Natural Resources Department to
                                   limit sale of for two-year period;
                                   Fish and Game



History


Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
House   19970501  Introduced, read first time,             20 HANR
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19970430  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19970429  Read second time, notice of
                  general amendments
Senate  19970424  Recalled from Committee,                 07 SFGF
                  placed on the Calendar
Senate  19970416  Introduced, read first time,             07 SFGF
                  referred to Committee

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


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

RECALLED

April 24, 1997

S. 668

Introduced by Senator Ravenel

S. Printed 4/24/97--S.

Read the first time April 16, 1997.

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO LIMIT THE SALE OF SHRIMP TRAWLING LICENSES FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD AND TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A LIMITED ENTRY FISHERY THEREAFTER.

Whereas, the shrimp trawl fishery is the most important commercial fishery in South Carolina; and

Whereas, there are indications that the commercial shrimp trawl fishery is overcapitalized, that is, that there are more boats in the fishery than necessary to harvest the shrimp crop each year which leads to economic inefficiencies; and

Whereas, a capping of the shrimp trawl fleet size at its current level or a reduction in the size of the fleet would help to stabilize or reduce biological problems resulting from the fishery including the catching of nontarget species and stranding of sea turtles; and

Whereas, members of the General Assembly are concerned about the influx of additional fishermen and boats into the fishery as other types of fisheries are restricted in states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. The Department of Natural Resources, working in cooperation with the South Carolina shrimp trawl industry, is directed to develop a procedure to limit the sale of shrimp trawling licenses to the number sold during 1996 for a period of two years, effective July first of the year of the effective date of this act, with preference for receiving a license going to those residents and nonresidents who held a valid South Carolina trawler's license during the 1996 season.

SECTION 2. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is directed to work closely with the South Carolina shrimp trawl industry to examine the feasibility and desirability of creating a limited entry fishery thereafter.

SECTION 3. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly during its next regular session after this two-year moratorium period.

SECTION 4. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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