S0955: Blue Crabs

Legislative Summary

Amend The South Carolina Code Of Laws By Adding Section 50-5-400 So As To Establish The Limited Commercial Blue Crab License And The Requirements For Obtaining The License; By Amending Section 50-5-325, Relating To Commercial Equipment Licenses And Fees, So As To Revise The Fee Structure For The Commercial Trap License; By Amending Section 50-5-350, Relating To The Transferability Of Licenses, So As To Exempt The Limited Commercial Blue Crab License From The General Transfer Prohibition; By Amending Section 50-5-360, Relating To Licenses To Engage In Shedding Peeler Crabs, So As To Require That An Applicant's Or Licensee's Business Premises Be Capable Of Peeler Shedding Operations; By Amending Section 50-5-545, Relating To Traps For Taking Blue Crab, So As To Provide For The Material, Dimensions, And Escape Vent Requirements Of The Traps; By Adding Section 50-5-1302 So As To Establish A Recreational Limit Of One-half Bushel Of Blue Crabs Per Person Per Day Not To Exceed One Bushel Per Boat; By Adding Section 50-5-1345 So As To Prohibit The Use Of Crab Traps In The Waters Of This State From January 16 Through January 29 Of Each Year; By Amending Section 50-5-330, Relating To Recreational Equipment Limits, So As To Increase The Number Of Traps That May Be Used For Recreational Purposes From Two To Ten With A Recreational Crab Trap Endorsement; And By Amending Section 50-9-540, Relating To Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licenses So As To Provide For The Cost Of The Recreational Crab Trap Endorsement.