reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 50-5-980 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-980. Erection and maintenance of signs; penalty.

 It is unlawful for a person, without approval of the department, to erect or maintain any sign over or on any state shellfish bottoms or waters. However, a Culture or Mariculture Permit holder may erect signs approved by the department to designate areas under permit. This section in no way affects placement by an authorized public agency of signs for aid to navigation, public health, public safety, and geographic designation. 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 5.
SC Code § 50-5-985 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-985. Setting season for taking shellfish; bringing shellfish into State during closed season; night harvests; penalties.

 (A) The department annually may set the season for taking shellfish between September 16 of any year through May 15 of the following year, inclusive. It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take any shellfish from shellfish grounds during the closed season. A person who violates the provision of this subsection for a commercial purpose 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 must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. A person who violates this section for a noncommercial purpose is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  (B) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shellfish from any grounds closed by the department or any other authorized government agency. A person who violates the provision of this subsection for a commercial purpose 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 and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. A person who violates the provisions of this subsection for a noncommercial purpose 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.  (C) The department has the authority to open or close any area for the taking of shellfish for any specified period at any time during the year when biological or other conditions warrant.  (D) Nothing in this section prevents the department from permitting the taking of shellfish for the purposes of replanting or propagation.  (E) Shellfish imported into this State during the closed season must bear written evidence, such as a bill of lading or other official document from the State of removal, which verifies that the shellfish were lawfully taken from that state. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.  (F) It is unlawful for a person to harvest shellfish between one-half hour after sunset as locally published and one-half hour before sunrise as locally published. In the case of bottoms under Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit harvesting of shellfish during the specified period is lawful with the written permission of the department.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 30.
SC Code § 50-5-990 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-990. Size limitations for hard clams of the genus Mercenaria; permits for possession and sale of undersized clams; penalties.

 (A) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take, possess, sell, purchase, or import a hard clam of the genus Mercenaria of less than one inch in thickness as measured from the exterior surface of one shell of the intact clam to the exterior surface of the opposite shell. A person taking a clam of other than legal size must immediately return it to the bottoms from whence it came.  (B) It is lawful for persons and entities engaged in shellfish mariculture operations to possess mariculture clams of less than the minimum size specified in this section and to import, purchase, sell, or transplant undersized mariculture clams, as defined in this section, by obtaining a permit. It is also lawful for a licensed wholesale seafood dealer or retail restaurant to purchase and possess for resale undersized maricultured clams purchased from a mariculture operation permitted pursuant to this section, provided the licensed wholesale seafood dealer or retailer has proof of origin in possession for each lot of clams purchased.  (C) A violation of this section by a person is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, that person must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-995 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-995. Shellfish mariculture operation permits.

 The department may permit persons and entities engaged in shellfish mariculture operations to take, possess, and sell maricultured shellfish at any time during the year.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-997 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-997. Shellfish mariculture permittees; out-of-season harvest permits.

 (A) The department may issue an out-of-season harvest permit to a Shellfish Mariculture permittee for the privilege of harvesting or selling maricultured shellfish out of season. The department may consider a permittee's past compliance with the provisions of this chapter in making its determination to issue an out-of-season harvest permit.  (B) In order to obtain an out-of-season harvest permit, a mariculture permittee must provide the following to the department:  (1) a shellfish operations plan that meets requirements established by regulations promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control pursuant to Section 44-1-140; and  (2) a list of authorized harvesters and wholesale dealers that will possess the permittee's out-of-season shellfish.  (C) Out-of-season harvest permits issued pursuant to this section may include conditions related to:  (1) harvest times and harvest areas;  (2) species;  (3) testing;  (4) reporting, record keeping, and inspection requirements;  (5) genetic strains including ploidy;  (6) tagging;  (7) authorized harvesters; and  (8) protection of the natural resources of this State.  (D) An authorized harvester acting under the provisions of a permittee's out-of-season harvest permit must first complete any shellfish training required by regulations promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control pursuant to Section 44-1-140. A Mariculture permittee must ensure that an authorized harvester acting under the permittee's out-of-season harvest permit abides by the conditions of the permit, receives proper training, and holds all required permits and licenses.  (E) The department may suspend or revoke a mariculture permittee's out-of-season harvest permit for a violation of a permit condition by the permittee or by an authorized harvester of the permittee. The filing of a judicial appeal does not act as an automatic stay of enforcement of the out-of-season permit suspension or revocation.  HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 30 (S.465), Section 5, eff May 10, 2017.
SC Code § 50-5-1000 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1000. Wholesale seafood dealer prohibited from purchasing from unlicensed fisherman or dealer; maintenance of records; penalties.

 (A) It is unlawful for any wholesale seafood dealer to purchase shellfish produced, taken, or landed in this State from anyone who is not either:  (1) a properly licensed and permitted commercial saltwater fisherman; or  (2) a properly licensed wholesale seafood dealer.  (B) The wholesale seafood dealer must maintain a record of all purchases of shellfish produced, taken, or landed in this State including the name and address of the person from whom purchased, the area where harvested, the type of shellfish purchased, the dates of harvest and purchase, and the commercial saltwater fisherman's license number. The record must be available for inspection by any law enforcement officer or department personnel for one year after the date of sale.  (C) Any licensed wholesale seafood dealer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-1005 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1005. Shellfish importation permits; conditions; penalties.

 (A)(1) The department may grant permits to persons to import molluscan shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells into this State.  (2) No molluscan shellfish, shellfish tissues, or shells may be imported into this State and placed in waters in this State except under the provisions of a shellfish importation permit.  (B)(1) The department may grant permits to persons to possess, produce, purchase, or sell polyploid shellfish.  (2) No polyploid shellfish, may be placed in the waters of this State or waters connected to the waters of this State, except under the provisions of a permit issued by the department.  (C) Permits issued pursuant to this section may include conditions related to:  (1) the type or species of mollusks to be imported;  (2) testing;  (3) ancillary species attached to or associated with the species to be imported;  (4) structure and placement of holding or storage facilities;  (5) placement of the product in natural waters of this State;  (6) disposal of shellfish, shellfish parts, and associated biota;  (7) treatment of effluent;  (8) biosecurity;  (9) reporting requirements; and  (10) protection of the natural resources of this State.  (D) A person who violates this section, or a condition of a permit issued pursuant to this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars and not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5; 2017 Act No. 30 (S.465), Section 6, eff May 10, 2017; 2018 Act No. 176 (H.4946), Section 1, eff May 3, 2018.  Effect of Amendment  2017 Act No. 30, Section 6, rewrote the section, prohibiting the placing of genetically modified shellfish in the waters in this state except under the provisions of a permit, providing for the issuance of permits to persons who possess, produce, purchase, or sell genetically modified shellfish, and providing for the issuance of permits with conditions relating to testing, treatment of effluent, and biosecurity.  2018 Act No. 176, Section 1, in (B), in (1) and (2), deleted "genetically modified shellfish, including" preceding "polyploid shellfish".
SC Code § 50-5-1010 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1010. Shell removal permits; conditions; remedy in event of significant ecological perturbations; payment.

 (A) The department has jurisdiction over all natural shell deposits, including oysters, clams, and other mollusks occurring upon or within state-owned bottoms, and over all shell deposits lying above mean high water if those deposits have been created by the process of accretion to state-owned lands or bottoms.  (B) The department may grant permits to remove shell from these deposits for use in shellfish cultivation and mariculture. The permits must be granted for a term not to exceed three years and must specify conditions for removal. Permits may be granted only when no significant ecological perturbations are foreseen. If permitted removal does cause significant ecological perturbations as a result of the permittee failing to abide by conditions of the permit, the permittee must restore the area to its original condition or as close to its original condition as possible. The department must specify a fixed price for each unit of shell removed. Payments for shell removed must be made by the permittee on or before the tenth day of each month for the preceding month.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-1015 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1015. Unlawful removal of shell; penalty.

 It is unlawful to remove shell from any shell deposits under state jurisdiction except as provided by this article. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-1020 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1020. Possession of undersized whelk of genus Busycon taken for commercial purpose prohibited.

 It is unlawful to take, possess, sell, or purchase a living whelk (conch) of the genus Busycon of less than a size as determined by the department but not less than four inches in maximum dimension if taken or landed in this State for a commercial purpose, provided this prohibition does not apply to conchs of less than legal size taken during lawful trawling which are returned immediately to the water.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-1102 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1102. Persons who may not obtain or hold shrimp baiting license; penalty.

 (A) Effective July 1, 2000, the following may not obtain or attempt to obtain a shrimp baiting license:  (1) any person who, or officer of a corporation which, owns a vessel specified on a trawl license;  (2) any person named as master of a vessel specified on a trawl license application;  (3) any person licensed to use a channel net;  (4) any person licensed to use a cast net for a commercial purpose; or  (5) any person who, or officer of a corporation which, is licensed as a wholesale seafood dealer.  (B) No person holding a shrimp baiting license may be a person specified in subsection (A).  (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 dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 373, Section 1.
SC Code § 50-5-1110 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1110. Mesh size and stretch measure for shrimp cast nets.

 Effective July 1, 2002, when taking shrimp over bait, no cast net may be used having a mesh size smaller than one-half inch square measure or one inch stretch measure. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 373, Section 2.
SC Code § 50-5-1300 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1300. Taking of sponge crabs prohibited; import permits; penalties.

 (A) It is unlawful for a person to take, possess, sell, or offer for sale, any sponge crab or female crab from which the sponge has been removed. It is not unlawful to temporarily take sponge crabs incidental to lawful crabbing operations so long as the sponge crabs are returned immediately to the water without further harm.  (B) The department may grant permits to licensed wholesale seafood dealers to import and possess sponge crabs from states where taking and selling are lawful.  (C) The prohibitions of subsection (A) do not apply to the importation or sale of sponge crabs by a licensed wholesale seafood dealer who holds a permit granted under this section. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.
SC Code § 50-5-1305 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1305. Blue crabs; commercial taking at night prohibited; penalties.

 (A) Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for a commercial saltwater fisherman licensed to set, move, fish, retrieve, or remove catch from traps which may be used to take blue crabs; or to transport aboard a vessel more than twenty-four blue crabs or parts or products thereof, 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 inclusive; and  (2) from 7:00 p.m until 6:00 a.m the following day, local time, from September 16 through March 31 inclusive.  This prohibition does not apply to recreational fishermen using properly marked personal traps.  A vessel rigged to use a licensed trawl may have blue crabs aboard at night if taken during lawful trawling activity; however, no vessel rigged for trawling may be used to set, move, retrieve, or remove catch from crab traps.  (B) A person who violates this section 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.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.
SC Code § 50-5-1310 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1310. Size limitations for blue crabs; peeler crab and clam mariculture exceptions.

 (A) Except as provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for a person to take, possess, sell or offer for sale any blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) of a size smaller than five inches measured from the tip of one lateral spine across the back of the shell to the tip of the opposite lateral spine. It is not unlawful to temporarily take blue crabs of a size smaller than five inches incidental to lawful fishing operations so long as the undersized crabs are returned immediately to the water without further harm. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  (B) Any licensed commercial saltwater fisherman licensed to harvest blue crabs may harvest or transport peeler crabs of less than five inches but must first obtain a written acknowledgment from a licensed peeler crab dealer in a form prescribed by the department stating that the peeler crab dealer will accept peeler crabs from the licensed commercial saltwater fisherman. The acknowledgment must be dated and is not effective beyond ninety days from the date thereon. A licensed commercial saltwater fisherman must deliver undersized peeler blue crabs only to licensed peeler crab dealers from whom he has received the written acknowledgment. A licensed commercial saltwater fisherman who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days.  (C) The department may issue permits to persons engaged in clam mariculture for the capture, temporary possession, and transport of blue crabs or stone crabs of any size. The permittee must return all captured stone crabs and sublegal blue crabs alive to water of comparable salinity. A permittee using more than two traps may retain legal size blue crabs and stone crab claws only if licensed as a commercial saltwater fisherman and licensed to use traps.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.
SC Code § 50-5-1315 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1315. Importation of undersize blue crabs; penalties.

 It is lawful for licensed wholesale seafood dealers to import blue crabs of less than the minimum size specified in this article when permitted by the department. Each shipment of imported blue crabs must have with it a bill of sale or other documentation dated no earlier than three days preceding the shipment from a licensed commercial saltwater fisherman or seafood dealer in the jurisdiction of origin verifying the crabs were lawfully taken. Any licensed wholesale seafood dealer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.
SC Code § 50-5-1320 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1320. Identification of vessels taking blue crabs by trap; buoy colors; penalty.

 (A) Any vessel used in aid of taking blue crabs by trap or transporting live blue crabs taken by traps for commercial purposes must display crab trap identification numbers assigned by the department as authorized in Article 5 of this chapter. The numbers must be displayed permanently and conspicuously on the outside of the hull on both the port and starboard sides of the vessel near midships. Individual letters and numerals must be no less than eight inches in height and six inches in width and of a color contrasting that of the hull. An unobstructed circle no less than eight inches in diameter, in a contrasting color must be displayed next to the trap identification number. The circle must consist of any one or two colors, other than black or yellow, which match the color or color combination utilized on the buoys of the crab traps being used. If two colors are used, each must cover one-half of the circle. Colors must be of such hue and brilliance as to be easily distinguished and seen.  The department may approve and require crab fishermen to register color choices.  (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7.