H*4709(Rat #0172, Act #0166 of 2016)  General Bill, By Hixon, Hodges, Corley, 
Burns, Hiott, V.S. Moss, Kirby and Newton

Similar(S 984)
 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA
 MARINE RESOURCES ACT OF 2000, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR THE TERM
 "SOUTHERN COBIA MANAGEMENT ZONE"; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-2730, AS AMENDED,
 RELATING TO CERTAIN FEDERAL FISHING REGULATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE
 REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO COBIA LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN COBIA MANAGEMENT
 ZONE. - ratified title

   01/20/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 5)
   01/20/16  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 5)
   01/28/16  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
                     (House Journal-page 3)
   01/28/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Newton
   02/03/16  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 18)
   02/03/16  House  Roll call Yeas-101  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 18)
   02/04/16  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 18)
   02/04/16  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 7)
   02/04/16  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
                     (Senate Journal-page 7)
   04/13/16  Senate Recalled from Committee on Fish, Game and
                     Forestry (Senate Journal-page 2)
   04/19/16  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 25)
   04/19/16  Senate Roll call Ayes-39  Nays-1 (Senate Journal-page 25)
   04/19/16  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day (Senate Journal-page 25)
   04/20/16  Senate Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 10)
   04/26/16         Ratified R 172
   04/29/16         Signed By Governor
   05/04/16         Effective date 04/29/16
   05/06/16         Act No. 166

(A166, R172, H4709)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-15, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA MARINE RESOURCES ACT OF 2000, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR THE TERM "SOUTHERN COBIA MANAGEMENT ZONE"; AND TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-2730, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CERTAIN FEDERAL FISHING REGULATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO COBIA LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN COBIA MANAGEMENT ZONE.

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

Southern Cobia Management Zone defined

SECTION    1.    Section 50-5-15 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 72 of 2013, is further amended by adding the following appropriately numbered item at the end:

"( )    'Southern Cobia Management Zone' means all waters of this State south of 032° 31.0´ N latitude, the approximate latitude of Jeremy Inlet, Edisto Island."

Federal fishing regulations

SECTION    2.    Section 50-5-2730 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 83 of 2013, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-5-2730.    (A)    Unless otherwise provided by law, any regulations promulgated by the federal government under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act (PL 94-265) or the Atlantic Tuna Conservation Act (PL 94-70) which establishes seasons, fishing periods, gear restrictions, sales restrictions, or bag, catch, size, or possession limits on fish are declared to be the law of this State and apply statewide including in state waters.

(B) This provision does not apply to:

(1)    black sea bass (Centropristis striata) whose lawful catch limit is five fish per person per day or the same as the federal limit for black sea bass, whichever is higher. The lawful minimum size is thirteen inches total length. Additionally, there is no closed season on the catching of black sea bass (Centropristis striata); or

(2)    cobia (Rachycentron canadum) located in the Southern Cobia Management Zone. Subject to the size limit established by federal regulation, possession of cobia caught in the Southern Cobia Management Zone is limited to one per person per day, and no more than three per boat per day, from June 1 to April 30. It is unlawful to take and possess cobia in the Southern Cobia Management Zone from May 1 to May 31, and at any time federal regulations provide for the closure of the recreational cobia season in the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean."

Time Effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 26th day of April, 2016.

Approved the 29th day of April, 2016.