South Carolina General Assembly
106th Session, 1985-1986

Bill 1074


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1074
Ratification Number:       540
Act Number:                477
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to Atlantic sturgeon
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A477, R540, S1074)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 50-17-2190, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ATLANTIC STURGEON, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIVISION OF MARINE RESOURCES MAY ESTABLISH MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SIZE LIMITS ON STURGEON INSTEAD OF MAXIMUM SIZE LIMITS ONLY AND TO PROVIDE THAT ANY SIZE STURGEON TAKEN DURING CLOSED SEASONS OR IN CLOSED AREAS MUST BE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE WATER.

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

Division of Marine Resources may establish

open and closed seasons for taking of Atlantic

sturgeon

SECTION 1. Section 50-17-2190 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 30 of 1985, is further amended to read:

"Section 50-17-2190. The Division of Marine Resources may establish open and closed seasons, size limits, times, and areas for the taking of Atlantic sturgeon (acipenser oxyrhynchus) in the waters of the State. Any person taking, catching, having in possession, buying, or selling any Atlantic sturgeon of less than or in excess of the size limits established during the closed seasons or times, or in the closed areas established by the division is guilty of a violation of this section.

Any sturgeon taken during the closed season or times, or in the closed areas established by the division must be released immediately in the waters where caught.

In addition to the penalties provided in Section 50-17-130, the catch, nets, and boats of any person accused of violating the provisions of this section must be seized and, upon conviction, sold as prescribed in Section 50-17-1615."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.