BIL: 3475

RTN: 383

ACN: 320

TYP: General Bill GB

INB: House

IND: 19990204

PSP: Limehouse

SPO: Limehouse, Cotty, Knotts, Lucas, W.McLeod, MeachamRichardson, Rhoad, Sharpe, Trotter and Whipper

DDN: l:\council\bills\dka\3188mm99.doc

DPB: 20000525

GOV: S

DGA: 20000606

SUB: Dolphin game fish, limits on taking; Sargassum grass, harvest of prohibited; Fish and Game, Natural Resources Department

HST:

Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved

______

------20000616 Act No. A320

------20000606 Signed by Governor

------20000531 Ratified R383

Senate 20000525 Read third time, enrolled for

ratification

Senate 20000524 Read second time, unanimous

consent for third reading on

Thursday, 20000525

Senate 20000523 Committee report: Favorable 07 SFGF

Senate 20000504 Introduced, read first time, 07 SFGF

referred to Committee

House 20000504 Read third time, sent to Senate

House 20000503 Read second time

House 20000427 Recalled from Committee 20 HANR

House 19990204 Introduced, read first time, 20 HANR

referred to Committee

Versions of This Bill

Revised on 20000427

Revised on 20000523

TXT:

(A320, R383, H3475)

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 17, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COASTAL FISHERIES LAWS IN CONNECTION WITH FINFISH AND CRUSTACEANS, BY ADDING SECTION 5051711 SO AS TO ESTABLISH LIMITS ON TAKING DOLPHIN GAME FISH, CORYPHAENA HIPPARUS, ALSO KNOWN AS DORADO OR MAHIMAHI, AND TO PROHIBIT THE HARVEST OR POSSESSION OF THE AQUATIC “GRASS” SARGASSUM, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

Limits on dolphin; unlawful possession of dolphin and Sargassum; penalties

SECTION 1. Article 17, Chapter 5, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 5051711. (A) It is unlawful to take, catch, have in possession, land, or sell a dolphin game fish, Coryphaena hipparus, also known as dorado or mahimahi in excess of the following limits:

(1) for a commercial boat, a commercial trip limit of four thousand five hundred pounds;

(2) for a recreational headboat or drift boat, a limit of fifty fish;

(3) for a recreational charter boat or other recreational boat not covered by item (2) above, a limit of seven fish for each person or twentysix fish for each boat;

(4) for a commercial fishery, an annual landing quota of one hundred eighty thousand pounds.

(B) It is unlawful to harvest, possess, transport, process, or sell the floating aquatic ‘grass’ known as Sargassum, an important habitat for dolphins and other marine species.

(C) The penalties for convictions of violations of this section are as provided in Section 5051715, and each dolphin fish taken in violation of this chapter and each instance of the harvest, possession, transportation, processing, or sale of Sargassum is a separate offense.”

Time effective

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

Ratified the 31st day of May, 2000.

Approved the 6th day of June, 2000.

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