reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 50-5-770 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-770. Shrimp trawl requirements; penalties.

 (A) A shrimp trawl made in part or in whole of any webbing less than two and one-half inches stretched mesh and exceeding a head rope length of sixteen feet used in the waters of this State must contain one or more department-approved, properly installed bycatch reduction devices.  (B) It is unlawful to have on board a vessel or to trawl with any trawl or trawls having a total foot rope length greater than two hundred twenty feet, not including the foot rope length of:  (1) a single trawl not greater than sixteen feet when used as a try net, or  (2) any trawl bundled and stored below deck or secured in a locked bin or container on deck.  (C) When a vessel is underway, this section applies to trawls attached to trawl doors.  (D) When a vessel is moored at a dock or anchored, this section applies to trawls attached to trawl doors or hung in the vessel's rigging.  (E) The department may exempt trawls utilized by persons holding a valid scientific collection permit granted by the department.  (F) A person who violates subsection (A) 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 any such trawl may be seized.  (G) A person who violates subsection (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, and any trawl on board may be seized.  HISTORY: Act No. 245, Section 4; 2000 Act No. 327, Section 1.
SC Code § 50-5-900 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-900. Commercial shellfish culture or mariculture permits; term.

 (A) The department may grant permits to any state resident for the exclusive use of portions of the intertidal or subtidal state-bottoms or waters for commercial shellfish culture or mariculture not to exceed an aggregate of five hundred acres of bottoms or an aggregate of one hundred surface acres of waters to any entity. In exercising its discretion the department may consider applicants' previous performance and compliance with natural resources laws.  (B) Each permit is valid for five years and may be renewed for additional terms.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-905 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-905. Permit applications; fee.

 (A) A person or entity desiring to acquire a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit for any bottoms or waters must make written application to the department on a form provided by the department. A nonrefundable sum of twenty-five dollars must accompany the application for each permit. If the proposed area is available for shellfish culture or mariculture, the department shall determine:  (1) the acreage of waters or shellfish bottoms; and  (2) the acreage capable of producing shellfish.  (B) No other Shellfish Culture Permit may be granted for the bottoms delineated within an existing Shellfish Culture Permit area. However, within the perimeter boundary of an existing Shellfish Culture Permit, the department may grant permits for mariculture for waters or bottoms not then under culture permit.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-910 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-910. Permit requirements; lottery; sworn statement as to distribution through properly licensed wholesale seafood dealer.

 (A) An applicant for Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits must:  (1) satisfy the department that the applicant has sufficient shellfish culture experience and will directly manage and supervise the cultivation of the permit area applied for, or will employ a qualified individual as manager within three months following the date that the permit becomes effective;  (2) own and employ or provide assurance that the applicant is capable of acquiring the necessary equipment and personnel to effectively harvest and manage the area in question; and  (3) hold or be qualified to obtain all state and federal approvals required for use of the bottoms or waters for which application is made.  (B) In cases where two or more individuals who are equally qualified apply for a permit for the same bottoms or waters, the granting of the permit may be determined by lottery. The order in which applications are received shall have no bearing on the granting of a permit.  (C) Persons and entities granted Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits must submit a sworn statement stating the permittee has a wholesale seafood dealer's license, a molluscan shellfish license, and a shellfish facility certified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control or that all shellfish harvested for sale shall be handled through a licensed wholesale seafood dealer having a molluscan shellfish license and a Department of Health and Environmental Control approved facility.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-915 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-915. Review of applications; permit requirements or conditions; revocation duties delegated to deputy director for Marine Resources.

 (A) In reviewing applications for Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits, the department must:  (1) review applications for permits and consider each applicant's qualifications, and may conduct personal interviews;  (2) consider contested permit applications, permit revisions, variances, or revocations; and  (3) consider the allocation of shellfish bottoms and waters for public or private use.  (B) Permits may be conditioned by the department to include requirements related to:  (1) shellfish production and reporting;  (2) mariculture structures and operations;  (3) guarantee of public rights of access and nonconflicting uses of permitted areas;  (4) planting variances;  (5) bonding and escrow;  (6) the department being held harmless from any claims or damages resulting from the permitted operations;  (7) correction of any environmental degradation which may result from the permitted activity; and  (8) revocation for failure to comply with permit performance conditions.  (C) Revocation of Shellfish Culture Permits and Shellfish Mariculture Permits may be delegated by the department director to the deputy director for Marine Resources.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-920 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-920. Mitigation of adverse impacts on shellfish bottoms and waters.

 (A) If this State authorizes any activity or use which requires closure of shellfish bottoms or waters, the portion of permitted bottoms or waters which falls within the closed area may be removed from the permit acreage, and the permit acreage agreement and annual fee adjusted on the annual renewal date.  (B) If any activity or use is permitted:  (1) over the objections of the department; or  (2) for a project of overriding public need;  and if the activity or use causes shellfish bottoms or waters to be unsuitable for the purposes of shellfish propagation or diminishes the productivity of any shellfish bottoms or waters, the agency which allowed the activity, upon recommendation by the department, must require mitigation for the loss of the resource. Mitigation must not be considered as a factor to justify adverse impacts, and this section must not be interpreted as authorizing any adverse impact on shellfish bottoms or waters.  (C) If an unauthorized action results in an adverse impact on shellfish bottoms or waters, the responsible party may be required by the department to mitigate for the loss of the resource and to compensate the department's shellfish permittee.  (D) Where shellfish grounds have been adversely impacted or closed by previous state authorization and there is additional adverse impact authorized by a state agency, the proponent (permittee) of the additional activity or use must mitigate the additional adverse impact. All such mitigation must benefit the resource.  (E) Mitigation of adverse impacts on shellfish bottoms and waters must be determined by the department. The determination constitutes a final agency decision for the purposes of the Administrative Procedures Act.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-925 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-925. Publication of notice of application.

 Upon conditional approval by the department of the shellfish culture or mariculture application and map, the applicant must publish a notice in a form satisfactory to the department advising all interested persons that the applicant has applied for a Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit and provide a specific description of the bottoms or waters. The notice must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county of the proposed permit.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-930 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-930. Preference.

 If a person granted a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit reapplies for the same bottoms or waters in the next ensuing term, the department must give preference to that applicant if the applicant has complied with all requirements of this article and his permit.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-935 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-935. Fees; late payment penalty.

 Each person granted a Shellfish Culture Permit or a Shellfish Mariculture Permit must pay an annual fee of five dollars an acre for the bottoms on which he has been granted shellfishing rights, or five dollars an acre of water surface determined at mean high water delineated on the permit map, or both, when waters above permitted bottoms are also permitted. In the case of bottoms, the annual permit fee must be based on the number of bottom acres producing or capable of producing shellfish. The annual fee for shellfish permits must be prorated from the first of the month following the issuance of the permit to February 1 next. Thereafter, all annual fees are payable in advance. On February 1, the department must invoice each permittee. If the annual fee is not paid by March 1, the department must add a late penalty of ten percent. If the department does not receive the fee and any penalty on or before April 1, the permit is void.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-940 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-940. Replanting for Shellfish Culture permittees; notice to department; revocation of permit or reduction of acreage for failure to replant.

 (A) Each Shellfish Culture permittee must plant fifty bushels of shell, seed oysters, seed clams, or other approved culch, or equivalent as determined by the department, annually for each acre of bottoms in his permit. All culch planting must be done between May 1 and August 31, inclusive, except permittees may replant green oyster shell from current operations if the shell is replanted within three days after gathering. Seed oysters and seed clams may be planted at any time of the year. All planting must be done only after notice to and with the approval of the department.  (B) The department may allow credit for planting on shellfish bottoms not under permit. If the plantings are previously approved by the department, credit must be given toward the permittee's annual quota in an amount equal to two times that of the number of bushels actually planted.  (C) The department may provide incentives to permittees for improved or innovative management and cultivation techniques in the form of additional planting credits or planting variances.  (D) If a permittee does not plant the required quota of approved culch or seed, his permit must be revoked or the permitted acreage reduced based upon the percentage of quota actually planted. In the event a permittee believes a permitted area, or a portion thereof, does not require planting for reasons of sound management, he must apply in writing to the department for a variance in his annual quota. The decision as to whether or not the bottoms must be planted or a variance given is within the discretion of the department. One cubic yard of approved culch is considered as twenty-one and seven-tenths bushels.  (E) The provisions of this section do not apply to Shellfish Mariculture Permits.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-945 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-945. Permit to take shellfish for replanting or use in mariculture; conditions.

 (A) Shellfish Culture permittees must acquire a permit to take shellfish for replanting from state bottoms designated by the department for that purpose. The permittee must make application to the department ten days before removing shellfish.  (B) Shellfish Mariculture permittees must acquire a permit from the department to take wild shellfish seed for use in mariculture.  (C) Permits issued pursuant to this section may include conditions related to:  (1) harvest dates and harvest areas;  (2) shellfish size and quantity limits;  (3) cull requirements; and  (4) protection of the natural resources of this State.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5; 2017 Act No. 30 (S.465), Section 3, eff May 10, 2017.  Effect of Amendment  2017 Act No. 30, Section 3, inserted the paragraph designators; in (A), in the first sentence, substituted "must" for "may"; and added (B) and (C), relating to shellfish mariculture permits and permit conditions.
SC Code § 50-5-950 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-950. Specification of other terms and conditions.

 In addition to the requirements of this article, the department may specify other permit terms and conditions. The department may require a written agreement between or among permittees holding bottoms or waters within a specified perimeter boundary. If the permittee violates any terms or conditions of the permit or a written agreement, the department may revoke or suspend the permit.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-955 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-955. Designation and maintenance of Public Shellfish Grounds; areas containing DHEC permitted structure; taking for commercial purpose prohibited.

 (A) The Department of Natural Resources may designate and shall maintain public shellfish grounds where persons holding or exempted from holding a recreational saltwater fishing license may gather shellfish solely for personal use not to exceed the personal limits specified in this article. The open areas must be located preferably at or near public landings. The Department of Natural Resources may not designate an area located within one thousand feet of highland property capable of development as a public shellfish ground. Areas designated before January 1, 1996, are exempt from the siting provision of this section and retain their designation until such designation is removed by the department.  (B) No area currently containing a structure permitted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its successor agency may be designated pursuant to this section. The Department of Health and Environmental Control or its successor agency may not issue a permit for utilization of a critical area designated as a Public Shellfish Ground.  (C) A person taking shellfish from a Public Shellfish Ground for commercial purposes or selling or attempting to sell shellfish taken from a Public Shellfish Ground 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. 245, Section 5; 2009 Act No. 15, Section 5, eff July 1, 2009.  Effect of Amendment  The 2009 amendment, in subsection (A), in the first sentence substituted "recreational saltwater fishing license" for "marine recreational fishing stamp as required by Article 19 of this chapter".
SC Code § 50-5-960 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-960. Rules governing recreational shellfish bottom harvests.

 (A) The following provisions apply to the taking and possessing of shellfish from bottoms designated by the department for recreational shellfish harvest by persons not permitted to harvest shellfish for commercial purposes:  (1) there is a personal limit of not more than two bushels of oysters or one-half bushel of clams, or both, in any one day;  (2) no person may harvest shellfish recreationally on more than two calendar days per any seven-day period; and  (3) regardless of the number of persons, there is a maximum possession limit of three personal limits per boat or vehicle or boat and vehicle combination.  (B) No person other than a person holding the required commercial license and permit may have in possession more than the daily limit provided in this article while on the waters of this State or the adjoining lands, provided that this prohibition does not apply to persons possessing or transporting properly tagged shellfish received from a licensed and certified wholesale seafood dealer.  (C) 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 two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 28.
SC Code § 50-5-965 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-965. Taking shellfish from bottoms designated for commercial harvest; individual harvester permits; written approvals; penalties.

 (A) A person who takes shellfish from bottoms or waters designated for commercial harvest must possess an individual harvesting permit granted by the department if the person:  (1) harvests or possesses quantities greater than those provided in this article for personal use; or  (2) harvests for commercial purposes.  (B) In order to obtain an individual harvesting permit, a person must be a licensed commercial saltwater fisherman, hold all other appropriate valid commercial licenses, and complete any shellfish training required by regulations promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control pursuant to Section 44-1-140.  (C) Permits issued pursuant to this section may include conditions related to:  (1) harvest dates and harvest areas;  (2) shellfish size and quantity limits;  (3) cull requirements; and  (4) protection of the natural resources of this State.  (D) The department may limit the number of areas not under Shellfish Culture Permit or Shellfish Mariculture Permit on which an individual may be permitted to harvest.  (E) When bottoms or waters are under permit for shellfish culture or mariculture, permittees may allow persons to harvest shellfish from bottoms and waters permitted to him. In addition to the permit required in subsection (A), harvesters must possess written approval from the Shellfish Culture permittee or Shellfish Mariculture permittee in a form approved by the department. Culture and Mariculture permittees must provide approved harvesters with the written permission and must maintain accurate record of harvesters' names, addresses, and, if available, telephone numbers.  (F) It is unlawful for a person to take or attempt to take shellfish in quantities greater than those for personal use provided in this article from any state-owned bottoms or waters without having in his possession a valid individual commercial harvesting permit granted to him.  (G) It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take shellfish from state-owned bottoms or waters under permit for shellfish culture or mariculture without a valid individual harvester permit granted to him by the department.  (H) 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 two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 29; 2017 Act No. 30 (S.465), Section 4, eff May 10, 2017.  Effect of Amendment  2017 Act No. 30, Section 4, amended and redesignated (G) as (B), relating to requirements for obtaining an individual harvester permit, inserted (C), relating to permit conditions, and redesignated accordingly; and in (H), inserted ", or a condition of a permit issued pursuant to this section,".
SC Code § 50-5-970 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-970. Mechanical harvest permits; penalties.

 It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shellfish from any bottoms or waters of this State for any purpose by mechanically operated devices, including dredges, hydraulic escalators, patent tongs, hoists, cranes, and mechanical shellfish harvesters without obtaining a mechanical harvest permit from the department. A person taking or attempting to take shellfish by mechanically operated devices without an appropriate, valid mechanical harvesting permit 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 or imprisoned for not more than thirty days and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for twelve months. Any commercial equipment or vessel used in violating this section and any shellfish in possession at the time of a violation is contraband.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.
SC Code § 50-5-975 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-975. Commercial and personal harvest limited to areas specified on permit; penalties; voluntary surrender of commercial permit.

 (A) A person permitted to harvest shellfish from state- owned bottoms for commercial purposes must harvest, whether for commercial or personal use, from only the areas of state bottoms specified on the permit. A person who violates this subsection 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) Following voluntary surrender of a commercial shellfish harvest permit by a commercial saltwater fisherman, the department must not reissue a commercial shellfish harvest permit to the person during the remainder of the license year.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 5.