South Carolina § 50-5-770 - Shrimp trawl requirements; penalties.

§ 50-5-770. Shrimp trawl requirements; penalties.

(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.

HISTORY: Act No. 245, SECTION 4; 2000 Act No. 327, SECTION 1.