07 LC
14 9690
Senate
Bill 292
By:
Senators Hawkins of the 49th and Tolleson of the 20th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 27-4-133 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to certain regulation of the taking of shrimp, so as to change provisions
relating to the opening of certain waters for commercial shrimping under certain
conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 27-4-133 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certain
regulation of the taking of shrimp, is amended by revising subsection (a) as
follows:
"(a)
Except as otherwise specifically provided, it shall be unlawful for any person
to use a power-drawn net in any of the salt waters of this state for commercial
shrimping for human consumption. All sounds shall be closed to such
fishing,
except that the commissioner may open Cumberland, St. Simons, Sapelo, St.
Andrew, Wassaw, or Ossabaw sounds or any combination of such sounds at any time
between September 1 and December 31, provided that he or she has determined that
the shrimp in the waters of each sound to be opened are 45 or fewer shrimp with
heads on to the pound; and the commissioner shall close each sound so opened
when he or she has determined that the shrimp in the waters of the sound exceed
45 shrimp with heads on to the pound. The
commissioner may open any waters outside, on the seaward side, of the sounds
between May 15 and December 31, provided that he or she has determined that the
shrimp in such outside waters are 45 or fewer shrimp with heads on to the pound;
and the commissioner shall close the waters so opened when he or she has
determined that the shrimp in such outside waters exceed 45 shrimp with heads on
to the pound. The commissioner may open any waters outside the sounds during the
months of January and February, provided that he or she has determined that the
shrimp in such outside waters are 50 or fewer shrimp with heads on to the pound;
and the commissioner shall close such outside waters so opened when he or she
has determined that the shrimp in such outside waters exceed 50 shrimp with
heads on to the pound. The department shall conduct inspections for such shrimp
count, and a determination by the commissioner shall be conclusive as to the
count. The commissioner shall provide public notice of the opening and closing
of such waters, as provided in this Code section, by posting a notice of all
openings and closings at the courthouse and on all shrimp docks and by such
other means as may appear feasible. The notices shall be posted at least 24
hours prior to any change in the opening and closing of any such waters,
provided that such notice is required only when waters are opened or closed by
action of the commissioner."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.