08 LC 21
9892S
The
Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee offered the following
substitute to HB 1016:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to fish, so as to provide for the salt-water and fresh-water demarcation lines;
to provide the commissioner of natural resources the ability to manage certain
aspects of the blue crab resource; to provide an effective date; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fish, is
amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 27-4-1,
relating to the salt-water and fresh-water demarcation line, as
follows:
"(1)
The point at which U.S. Highway 17 crosses the following bodies of water and
their tributaries shall be the line of demarcation for them: St. Marys River,
Satilla River, South Altamaha River, Champney River, Butler River, Darien River,
Little Ogeechee System (except Salt Creek), North Newport River, Medway River,
Big Ogeechee River, and
the point at
which Georgia Highway 25 / South Carolina 170 crosses
the Savannah River
and its
tributaries. All water seaward of these
points shall be considered salt water; and"
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising subsection (j) of Code Section 27-4-151,
relating to the use of crab traps, identification of boats or vessels, and
closure of salt waters, as follows:
"(j)
The commissioner shall have the power to close all or any portion of the
saltwaters
salt
waters of this state to commercial and
recreational fishing for blue crabs or any component of the blue crab fishery,
including peeler, soft, or sponge
crabs, in
the event of flood, drought, disease, or any other emergency situation or in the
event of a disaster or other occurrence likely to cause seafood to be unfit for
human consumption. Any determination to
close the
saltwaters
salt
waters pursuant to this subsection or to
reopen such waters shall be made in accordance with current, sound principles of
wildlife research and management as provided by Code Section
27-4-130."
SECTION
3.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.