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RECALLED
April 27, 2000
H. 3475
Introduced by Reps. Limehouse, Cotty, Knotts, Lucas, W. McLeod, Meacham-Richardson, Rhoad, Sharpe, Trotter and Whipper
S. Printed 4/27/00--H.
Read the first time February 4, 1999.
TO AMEND ARTICLE 5, CHAPTER 17, TITLE 50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO COASTAL FISHERIES LAWS IN CONNECTION WITH FINFISH AND CRUSTACEANS, BY ADDING SECTION 50-17-550 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:
SECTION 1. Article 5, Chapter 17, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-17-550. (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 twenty-six 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 50-17-100, 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."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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