reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 50-5-515 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-515. Channel nets to be used only in designated areas; Turtle Excluder Device requirements; penalties.

 (A) It is unlawful to use channel nets in the salt waters of this State, except in areas designated by the department.  (B) The following apply to use of channel nets:  (1) A functional soft or hard Turtle Excluder Device (TED) must be correctly installed in any channel net used in the waters of this State, except in areas specifically exempted in this section.  (2) A soft TED must be constructed and installed so as to conform to the specifications of the National Marine Fisheries Service for soft TED's.  (3) A hard TED must conform to the following specifications:  (a) the TED must be a single, rigid, oval deflector grid which is made of steel rod or pipe not less than one-third inch diameter, aluminum rod or pipe not less than one-half inch diameter, or fiberglass rod of comparable strength;  (b) the TED must be installed so that it is at a thirty to forty-five degree angle from the horizontal when in use;  (c) the minimum inside diameter may not be less than thirty inches;  (d) the minimum (slit) escape opening is thirty-five inches;  (e) the maximum spacing between the bars is four inches; there is no minimum spacing;  (f) all "hard" TEDs must be top exiting only;  (g) an optional, rectangular flap may be installed over the escape opening, provided it is attached only on its forward edge, does not extend more than four inches aft of the escape opening, is no wider than thirty-six inches, and the mesh size is no larger than two inches stretch.  (4) Turtle Excluder Devices are not required in channel nets used east of a line in Winyah Bay from the front range on Big Marsh Island, running southeast to day marker No. 18, thence running south southeast to red Nun Buoy No. 16. Any channel net used west of this line must use an approved Turtle Excluder Device. Turtle Excluder Devices are not required in channel nets used in North Santee Bay. However, the department may require TEDs in additional or all open areas if a significant threat to sea turtles is determined.  (5) A sea turtle accidentally taken must be released immediately unless it is apparent that resuscitation is required. If resuscitation is required, the fisherman must retain the turtle until the turtle has recovered sufficiently and is capable of swimming.  (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 21.
SC Code § 50-5-520 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-520. Channel net violations; forfeiture of license; seizure of equipment.

 In addition to any other penalty, a person who violates channel net laws forfeits the privilege to hold a channel net license for the next thirty open season days. Any boat, motor, boat trailer, and equipment used in aid of a violation related to channel nets or during the period for which the channel net license has been suspended or revoked must be seized and disposed of as provided in this chapter. This seizure requirement does not apply to requirements relating to lighting of channel nets, distances from the centerline of marked navigation channels if the distance is greater than three hundred feet, and distances between channel nets and other fishing devices.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 22.
SC Code § 50-5-525 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-525. Unlawful deployment of net; penalty.

 (A) It is unlawful to use or deploy any net or similar device or any part thereof including line and attached devices so that any part thereof extends more than one-half the width of any saltwater creek, stream, channel, slough, or other salt water regardless of the stage of the tide, river stage, or method of net deployment.  (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-530 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-530. Placement of stationary and channel nets; time for setting and removal of channel nets; penalty.

 (A) It is unlawful to set any stationary nets except channel nets, within six hundred feet of any other net or device for taking fish except traps. It is unlawful to set any channel net within two hundred feet of any other channel net. No channel net may be set within four hundred feet of the centerline of a marked navigation channel. Any channel nets must be removed not later than the close of the channel net season. Lines, buoys, anchors, and associated equipment may be set no earlier than three days before the opening of the channel net season and must be removed not later than three days following the close of the channel net season.  (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-535 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-535. Placement of fishing equipment near public fishing pier or man-made jetty equipped with fishing walkway.

 It is unlawful to set any fishing equipment within six hundred feet of a public fishing pier or man-made jetty equipped with a fishing walkway in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The provisions of this section apply only to a fishing pier open to the public or man-made jetty equipped with a fishing walkway open to the public.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-540 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-540. Use of seine or gill net in state park; shrimp net exception.

 It is unlawful to use a seine or gill net in a lagoon, impoundment, or lake within the boundaries of a state park, except that lawful shrimp seines and cast nets for the taking of shrimp are allowed.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-545 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-545. Commercial blue crab traps; escape vent requirements; peeler trap exemption.

 (A) Except as provided in this section, from June 1 through March 14, a trap used for taking blue crab used for commercial purposes must have at least two unobstructed, circular escape vents (rings) which must be two and three-eighths inches or greater in inside diameter and located on vertical surfaces. At least one vent (ring) must be in the upper chamber. All vents (rings) must be within two inches of the horizontal partition or the base of the trap.  (B) A trap used for taking blue crab constructed of a single chamber must have at least one two and three-eighths inch or larger inside diameter escape vent (ring) located on a vertical surface within two inches of the base of the trap. Peeler traps are exempt year round.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 23; 2013 Act No. 7, Section 5, eff March 22, 2013.  Effect of Amendment  The 2013 amendment, in subsection (A), substituted "a trap used for taking blue crab" for "a crab trap", and in subsection (B), substituted "A trap used for taking blue crab" for "Crab traps".
SC Code § 50-5-550 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-550. Trap buoy size, material, catch release feature and identification tag or other identifying information requirements; seizure of unmarked traps.

 (A) Other than minnow traps not used for a commercial purpose, and traps with lines attached to a shore based structure and not used for a commercial purpose, each trap set in the waters of this State must have attached to it a buoy made of solid, buoyant material which does not sink if punctured or if cracked. A spherical or nonspherical primary buoy must be attached to each trap. A nonspherical buoy must be at least ten inches in length and five inches in diameter or width. A spherical buoy must be at least six inches in diameter. No plastic, metal, or glass bottles or jugs may be used as a buoy, and no buoy attached may be made of a material which could sink if punctured or cracked. No floating line or rope may be used. Minnow traps used for commercial purposes must utilize floats no smaller than five inches marked with the operator's name.  (B) The department may require that each trap set in the salt waters of this State have catch release features and identification tags designated by the department.  (C) Each licensed commercial saltwater fisherman licensed to fish traps must acquire an identification number assigned by the department. No person may acquire or attempt to acquire more than one identification number. The assigned identification number must be burned or branded on each primary trap buoy in numerals of at least two inches in height, must be clearly legible, must be in a color contrasting that of the buoy, and must be unobstructed and visible when the buoy is at rest in the water.  (D) The buoy of traps used by individuals for personal use as provided by law in lieu of the identification number required on commercial traps must bear the owner's name and current address and must be yellow in color.  (E) A trap not marked in accordance with this section is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 24; 2013 Act No. 7, Section 6, eff March 22, 2013.  Effect of Amendment  The 2013 amendment, in subsection (A), deleted "and bait dealer license number" from the end.
SC Code § 50-5-555 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-555. Trap placement and attention requirements; department inspection, removal, seizure, and disposal.

 (A) No trap may be placed within six hundred feet of a public boat ramp or launching area.  (B) No trap may be set so as to leave any portion of the trap dry at any stage of the tide.  (C) No trap may be unattended for more than five days. Without having written permission of the owner, no person may retrieve or remove catch from any trap the buoy of which is marked with a number assigned by the department to another person.  (D) No trap may be set so as to obstruct navigation in any creek or other navigable water course, access point, or mooring point. A trap determined by the department to be in violation of this section may be removed by the department and disposed of as provided in this chapter.  (E) The department may inspect traps for compliance with this section at any time. If the department finds any trap:  (1) set in violation of this section;  (2) containing excessive dead catch or only dead catch; or  (3) with buoy, line, or trap displaying excessive marine growth, the trap is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-560 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-560. Blue crab traps on Cooper River.

 Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 13 of this title, traps used for taking blue crabs may be fished on Cooper River upstream to the confluence of the east and west branches of Cooper River; provided that all requirements of this chapter are complied with.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-565 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-565. Time restrictions for placement of commercial traps.

 It is unlawful to set, move, fish, retrieve, or remove catch from traps during the following times:  (1) from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day, local time, from April 1 through September 15; and  (2) from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m the following day, local time, from September 16 through March 31.  This prohibition does not apply to recreational fishermen using properly marked personal traps.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-570 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-570. Use of live bait on lines with more than three hooks.

 It is unlawful to use live bait in the salt waters of this State on lines having more than three hooks.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-575 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-575. Violation of provision for which no penalty provided; seizure and disposal of unlawful devices.

 (A) A person who violates a provision of this article for which no penalty is specified is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  (B) Any unlawful fishing device or any fishing device used in an unlawful manner is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided by law.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 3.
SC Code § 50-5-580 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-580. Gigging for fish in saltwaters of Georgetown County.

 It is unlawful in Georgetown County for a person to gig for fish in saltwaters from the northern tip of North Island to the northern tip of Magnolia Beach during the daylight hours. Any person violating the provisions of this section, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 23.
SC Code § 50-5-581 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-581. Gigging for flounder.

 It is unlawful for a person to gig for flounder in the salt waters of this State during daylight hours. For the purposes of this section, "daylight hours" means that period of time between official sunrise and official sunset. Any person violating the provisions of this section, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. For the purposes of this section, gigging does not include underwater spear fishing.  HISTORY: 2013 Act No. 14, Section 1, eff April 23, 2013.
SC Code § 50-5-700 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-700. Trawling prohibited.

 It is unlawful to trawl in the waters of this State except as allowed in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-720 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-720. Disposal of trawl bycatch; penalty.

 (A) It is unlawful to dispose of trawl bycatch or waste fisheries products at any time into state waters within one-half nautical mile of any Atlantic Ocean beach for which trawling restrictions are provided.  (B) A person who violates this section 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.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-725 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-725. Trawling waters description references.

 The description of trawling waters in this article refers to the National Oceanic Service Nautical Charts prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and future revisions of these charts by the federal government. References to points of latitude and longitude in this chapter are North American Datum 1983-1986 and take precedent over any reference to landmarks, buoys, jetties, or other physical features.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-730 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-730. Trawling near public fishing pier; penalty.

 It is unlawful to trawl within one-half nautical mile of any public fishing pier in the salt waters. A person who violates this section 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 less than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-735 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-735. Night trawling; finfish exception.

 (A) Except as provided in this section it is unlawful to trawl at night. Night as used in this section means:  (1) from April 1 through August 31 inclusive: 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the following day, local time; and  (2) from September 1 through October 31 inclusive: 8:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. the following day, local time; and  (3) from November 1 through March 31 inclusive: 7:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. the following day, local time.  (B) The department may grant permits authorizing night trawling for finfish.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-740 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-740. Blue crab trawling season; penalty for trawling out of season; seizure and disposal of contraband.

 (A) The department annually may set the season for taking blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) by trawling between December 1 of one year through March 31 of the following year, inclusive. It is unlawful to trawl for crabs during the closed season.  (B) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two thousand dollars and not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Any catch aboard or under control of the fisherman or other person at the time of the violation is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-745 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-745. Blue crab taken by legal shrimp trawlers.

 The operator of a shrimp trawler may take, retain, and market lawful size blue crabs taken in the normal lawful process of trawling for shrimp during the seasons set for taking shrimp.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-750 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-750. Crab trawling equipment restrictions; penalty.

 It is unlawful to trawl for crabs with equipment with a mesh of less than four inches stretched, and chafing gear of any sort must not be more than one-half the circumference of the tailbag. A person who violates this section 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.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-755 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-755. Permits to trawl or dredge for finfish, blue crabs, whelks, and horseshoe crabs; limitations and conditions as to equipment; penalty.

 (A) The department may grant permits to licensed commercial saltwater fishermen to trawl or dredge for finfish, blue crabs, whelks (conchs), or other marine resources in any portion of the General Trawling Zone and for horseshoe crabs in the salt waters of this State. A captain engaged in the activity must possess a valid permit for the purpose granted by the department. A vessel lawfully engaged in taking shrimp with trawl nets having stretched mesh of less than two and one-half inches does not require a permit to retain lawful finfish, blue crabs, whelks, or other marine resource.  (B) Permits granted under this section may be limited and may include conditions as to minimum size requirements, mesh size of nets and other devices, fishing times or periods, fishing areas, species which may be retained for sale, catch limitations, catch reporting requirements, and other matters which it considers necessary. Unless permitted under this section, no net having a mesh of less than four inches stretched mesh may be aboard a boat trawling during the closed season for shrimp unless the net is stored below deck or secured in a locked bin or container.  (C) The provisions of this section do not apply to the use of equipment permitted for taking oysters and hard clams in accordance with other provisions of law and regulations.  (D) A person who violates this section by failing to acquire a permit, trawling at a time other than times allowed by law or under permit, or trawling in a nonpermitted area is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-760 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-760. Illegal trawling.

 The operator of any vessel operating in an area or during a time when trawling is restricted or prohibited and which vessel does not have its trawl doors completely out of the water is illegally trawling.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4.
SC Code § 50-5-765 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-765. Use of turtle excluder devices; penalty.

 (A) Except as provided in this section, a turtle excluder device must be used in trawl nets in the salt waters of this State under the same conditions required by federal regulations.  (B) Until the federal regulations are amended to require turtle excluder device escape openings having dimensions equal to or greater than those required in item (1) of this subsection, each trawl net using a hard turtle excluder device in the salt waters of this State:  (1) must have a turtle excluder device escape opening of no less than thirty-five inches in taut horizontal length and no less than twenty inches in simultaneous vertical taut height, or  (2) must have a federally approved leatherback or double cover flap hard turtle excluder device modification.  (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 4; 2002 Act No. 260, Section 1; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 27.