H*4881(Rat #0391, Act #0327 of 2000)  General Bill, By Witherspoon
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-770, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO SHRIMP TRAWLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HAVE ON
 BOARD OR TO TRAWL WITH ANY TRAWL HAVING A TOTAL FOOT ROPE LENGTH GREATER THAN
 TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FEET, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE
 ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

   04/05/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-67
   04/05/00  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-67
   04/19/00  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-3
   04/25/00  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Cato, Fleming,
                     Knotts, Koon, Stuart, Sharpe and Witherspoon HJ-22
   05/03/00  House  Requests for debate removed-Rep(s). Fleming,
                     Knotts, and Cato HJ-23
   05/03/00  House  Read second time HJ-23
   05/04/00  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-13
   05/04/00  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   05/04/00  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-10
   05/24/00  Senate Polled out of committee Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-17
   05/24/00  Senate Committee report: Favorable Fish, Game and
                     Forestry SJ-17
   05/25/00  Senate Read second time SJ-89
   05/25/00  Senate Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day SJ-89
   05/26/00  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-3
   05/31/00         Ratified R 391
   06/06/00         Signed By Governor
   06/14/00         Effective date 06/06/00
   06/14/00         Copies available
   06/14/00         Act No. 327

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-5-770, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SHRIMP TRAWLS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HAVE ON BOARD OR TO TRAWL WITH ANY TRAWL HAVING A TOTAL FOOT ROPE LENGTH GREATER THAN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FEET, TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION.

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

Unlawful to have on board or trawl with shrimp trawl having rope length greater than two hundred twenty feet; penalties

SECTION 1. Section 50-5-770 of the 1976 Code, as added by an act of 2000 bearing ratification number 253, is amended to read:

"Section 50-5-770. (A) A shrimp trawl made in part or in whole of any webbing less than two and one-half inches stretched mesh and exceeding a head rope length of sixteen feet used in the waters of this State must contain one or more department-approved, properly installed bycatch reduction devices.

(B) It is unlawful to have on board a vessel or to trawl with any trawl or trawls having a total foot rope length greater than two hundred twenty feet, not including the foot rope length of:

(1) a single trawl not greater than sixteen feet when used as a try net, or

(2) any trawl bundled and stored below deck or secured in a locked bin or container on deck.

(C) When a vessel is underway, this section applies to trawls attached to trawl doors.

(D) When a vessel is moored at a dock or anchored, this section applies to trawls attached to trawl doors or hung in the vessel's rigging.

(E) The department may exempt trawls utilized by persons holding a valid scientific collection permit granted by the department.

(F) A person who violates subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, and any such trawl may be seized.

(G) A person who violates subsection (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, and any trawl on board may be seized."

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.