reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 50-5-1325 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1325. Stone crabs; claw size, removal and sale limitations; penalty.

 (A) It is unlawful to take or possess a stone crab or stone crab parts except as provided herein.  (B) A stone crab having two claws may be temporarily taken for removal of the larger claw provided the larger claw is two and three-fourths inches in length or larger measured by a straight line from the elbow to the tip of the lower immovable claw finger, and the crab must be returned immediately to the water.  (C) It is unlawful to possess a female stone crab bearing visible eggs or to remove visible eggs or either claw from a female stone crab bearing visible eggs.  (D) It is unlawful to possess, sell, or offer for sale any stone crab claw which has a forearm (propodus) of less than the size provided in subsection (B).  (E) 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 § 50-5-1330 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1330. Horseshoe crab permits, taking and handling requirements; penalty.

 (A) Taking or possessing horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) is unlawful except under permit granted by the department. A permit is not required to possess a cast off or molted shell (exoskeleton) of a horseshoe crab.  (B) The department may permit the taking or possession of horseshoe crabs. Permits granted under this section may include provisions as to lawful fishing areas; minimum size requirements for horseshoe crabs; mesh size and dimensions of nets and other harvesting devices; by catch requirements; fishing times or periods; catch reporting requirements; holding facilities, conditions, and periods; and other conditions the department determines.  (C) Horseshoe crabs from which blood is collected for production of amebocyte lysate may be held in facilities approved by the department and must be handled so as to minimize injury to the crab. Horseshoe crabs collected in this State must be returned unharmed to state waters of comparable salinity and water quality as soon as possible after bleeding unless subsequent retention is permitted.  (D) The taking of horseshoe crabs incidentally during legal fishing operations does not violate this section if the crabs are returned immediately to the water unharmed.  (E) The department may grant permits to institutions and persons engaged in science instruction or curation to possess horseshoe crabs or parts thereof for such purposes, and permittees are not required to be licensed under this chapter.  (F) No horseshoe crab collected in South Carolina may be removed from this State.  (G) A person who violates this section or a condition of a permit issued hereunder 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. Each horseshoe crab or part thereof in violation is a separate offense.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 7; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 51; 2013 Act No. 7, Section 8, eff March 22, 2013.  Effect of Amendment  The 2013 amendment, in subsection (A), added the second sentence, regarding possession of a molted shell; and in subsection (E), deleted "no more than five" following "to possess".
SC Code § 50-5-1335 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1335. Use of blue crab traps in certain locations.

 It is unlawful to set a trap used for taking blue crab for commercial purposes within these waters of the State:  (1) Pawley's Island Creek and Midway Creek on Pawley's Island in Georgetown County;  (2) one hundred fifty feet of the mean low tide watermark on Atlantic Ocean shoreline of Pawley's Island in Georgetown County;  (3) DeBordieu Creek and its tributaries and distributaries above the entrance to Bass Hole Creek and seaward of the causeways of Luvan Boulevard in Georgetown County;  (4) the Sampit River above a line connecting the point on the eastern shoreline of Sampit River at its confluence with Winyah Bay at latitude 33° 21.08' N, longitude 79° 16.71' W and the point on the western shoreline of Winyah Bay generally south of its confluence with Sampit River at latitude 33° 20.68' N, longitude 79° 16.90' W in Georgetown County; and  (5) Little Chechessee Creek in Beaufort County.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 22; 2002 Act No. 247, Section 1; 2003 Act No. 60, Section 6; 2013 Act No. 7, Section 9, eff March 22, 2013.  Effect of Amendment  The 2013 amendment, in the introductory paragraph, substituted "set a trap used for taking blue crab" for "set or use a blue crab trap".
SC Code § 50-5-1500 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1500. Regulation of devices for taking shad, herring, or eels.

 (A) This article governs specific diadromous fisheries in both freshwaters and salt waters.  (B) The department may restrict the number of devices for taking shad, herring, or eels in any body of water because of statutory limitations on placement of devices or to prevent congestion of devices or watercraft or for conservation purposes. The department may grant permits to commercial saltwater or commercial freshwater fishermen for this purpose. Permits may be limited in number and may be conditioned so as to designate areas, size, and take limits, hours, type, and amount of equipment, and catch reporting requirements.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8; 2010 Act No. 200, Section 4, eff May 28, 2010.  Effect of Amendment  The 2010 amendment rewrote the section.
SC Code § 50-5-1505 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1505. Taking of shad, herring, or sturgeon.

 The department must monitor the various drainage basins and water bodies of this State and may promulgate regulations to set seasons, take (catch) and size limits, areas, methods, times, equipment requirements, and catch reporting requirements for taking of shad, herring, and sturgeon as needed for proper management in each basin or water body as a zone. It is unlawful to take or attempt to take shad, herring, or sturgeon except as authorized by this article. It is unlawful to possess more than the legal limit of shad, herring, or sturgeon.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8; 2001 Act No. 5, Section 1; 2001 Act No. 12, Section 1; 2001 Act No. 20, Sections 1, 2; 2002 Act No. 183, Sections 1, 2; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 32.
SC Code § 50-5-1508 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1508. Zones, seasons, times, catch limits, size limits, methods, and equipment for taking sturgeon.

 In addition to other provisions of law, the following provisions govern seasons, times, methods, equipment, size limits, and take limits in fishing for Atlantic sturgeon in the waters of this State:  (a) Territorial sea:  Season: No open season.  (b) Internal waters:  Season: No open season.  HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 342, Section 35.
SC Code § 50-5-1515 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1515. Shad hook and line catch limits.

 (A) Except as provided in this section, a person taking or attempting to take shad by cast net, skim-bow net, or by hook and line including rod and reel may take or possess no more than an aggregate of ten American and hickory shad in any one day.  (B) A person taking or attempting to take shad by hook and line including rod and reel in the Santee River may take or possess no more than an aggregate of twenty American and hickory shad in any one day.  (C) No shad taken by cast net, skim-bow net, or by hook and line including rod and reel may be sold, offered for sale, or purchased. In freshwaters, a person must hold a freshwater fishing license.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8; 2000 Act No. 401, Section 1; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 37.
SC Code § 50-5-1520 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1520. Herring catch limits.

 A person not licensed as a commercial saltwater fisherman taking or attempting to take herring by cast net or by hook and line, including rod and reel, may take or possess no more than an aggregate of one bushel of herring in any one day. In freshwaters, a person must hold a freshwater fishing license.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1525 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1525. Unlawful taking of Atlantic sturgeon; penalties.

 (A) Any sturgeon taken during the closed season or in closed areas or with unauthorized equipment must be released immediately back into the waters where taken.  (B) A person taking or possessing any Atlantic sturgeon or any part or product thereof, except as allowed by regulations set by the department, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.  (C) A person taking or possessing for a commercial purpose, buying, or selling any Atlantic sturgeon or any part or product thereof, except as allowed by regulations set by the department, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars and not 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.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1530 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1530. Receiving Atlantic sturgeon; record keeping requirements; penalties.

 A person who receives Atlantic sturgeon or any part or product thereof other than at retail or for consumption must maintain records for a period of no less than one year. Records must include:  (1) the number and weight of sturgeon received;  (2) the type and amount of part or product received;  (3) the names and addresses of persons from whom received; and  (4) the names and addresses of persons to whom sold at wholesale.  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 and the person's or entity's privilege to hold the wholesale seafood dealer license must be suspended for six months.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1535 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1535. Taking of shortnose sturgeon prohibited; penalty.

 Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, it is unlawful for anyone to take, possess, buy, sell, or ship shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) or any part or product thereof. Any shortnose sturgeon taken incidentally to fishing activity must be returned unharmed immediately to the water from where taken. A 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 longer than one year, and must have his saltwater privileges suspended for ten years.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1540 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1540. Net placement.

 (A) No shad, herring, or sturgeon net, including its cables, lines, or attached devices, either set, drift, or fished in the waters of this State may be of a length greater than one-half the normal width of the water body at the place where used, regardless of the stage of the tide, river stage, water level, or method of net deployment.  (B) No net may be:  (1) set within six hundred feet of any gill net previously set;  (2) drifted within six hundred feet of another drifting net; or  (3) placed or set within seventy-five feet of the confluence of any tributary.  (C) Nothing in this section prevents a lawfully drifted gill net from passing within six hundred feet of a lawfully anchored gill net.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 38.
SC Code § 50-5-1545 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1545. Removal of nets during off times and periods; penalties.

 (A) During times and periods when taking of shad by net is not allowed, any net which could be used for taking shad must be removed from the waters.  (B) During times and periods when taking of herring by net is not allowed, any net which could be used for taking herring must be removed from the waters.  (C) During times and periods when taking of sturgeon by net is not allowed, any net which could be used for taking sturgeon must be removed from the waters.  (D) Any nonmesh, net-related fishing apparatus, including leads, cables, anchors, signs, and buoys must be removed from the waters and banks of the streams or water courses no later than three days after the close of the respective season. Any net or part thereof, including leads, cables, anchors, signs, and buoys found in violation of this section is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided by law.  (E) Anchors with attached line and buoys may remain in lawful waters during weekly closed periods of the open season.  (F) A person leaving a net or any part thereof, including any cables, leads, or anchors, in violation of 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 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1550 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1550. Seizure of net or seine containing decomposed fish.

 Any net or seine set in the waters of this State which contains decomposed fish is contraband and must be seized and disposed of as provided in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1555 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1555. Commercial eel taking permits; conditions; penalty.

 (A) The department may grant permits to licensed commercial saltwater or freshwater fishermen to engage in the fishery for eels in the waters of this State for commercial purposes. A person taking American eels for commercial purposes must first acquire a permit from the department.  (B) Permits granted under this section may be limited in number and may be conditioned so as to designate seasons, size limits, take or catch limits, hours, areas, fishing methods, type and amount of equipment, and catch reporting requirements.  (C) The department may define an approved fyke net for the taking of eels in the waters of this State and may permit and limit its use by means of permits granted under this section.  (D) A person who takes or attempts to take eels for a commercial purpose without first acquiring an eel permit 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 8.
SC Code § 50-5-1556 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1556. Striped bass.

 (A) In the inshore waters, except for that portion of the Savannah River from the saltwater-freshwater dividing line downstream to the mouth of the Savannah River defined by a line from Jones Island, S.C. (also known as Oysterbed Island) point at N. 32° 02' 18" (N 32.03833°), W. 80° 53' 21" (W 80.88917°); across Cockspur Island, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01' 58" (N 32.03278°), W. 80° 52' 56" (W 80.88222°) to Lazaretto Creek, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01' 2" (N 32.01722°), W. 80° 52' 51" (W 80.88083°), and the territorial sea from June sixteenth through September thirtieth, it is unlawful to possess any striped bass (rockfish). Any striped bass taken must be returned immediately to the waters from where it came.  (B) In the inshore waters, except for that portion of the Savannah River from the saltwater-freshwater dividing line downstream to the mouth of the Savannah River defined by a line from Jones Island, S.C. (also known as Oysterbed Island) point at N. 32° 02' 18" (N 32.03833°), W. 80° 53' 21" (W 80.88917°); across Cockspur Island, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01' 58" (N 32.03278°), W. 80° 52' 56" (W 80.88222°) to Lazaretto Creek, Georgia, point at N. 32° 01' 2" (N 32.01722°), W. 80° 52' 51" (W 80.88083°), and the territorial sea from October first through June fifteenth it is unlawful to:  (1) take or possess more than three striped bass per day;  (2) take any striped bass less than twenty-six inches in length; or  (3) land any striped bass without the head and tail fin intact.  HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 193, Section 1, eff May 28, 2010; 2018 Act No. 164 (H.3698), Section 2, eff May 3, 2018.  Effect of Amendment  2018 Act No. 164, Section 2, in (A), in the first sentence, substituted "June sixteenth" for "June first"; in (B), substituted "June fifteenth" for "May thirty-first"; and made nonsubstantive changes.
SC Code § 50-5-1557 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1557. Shad, herring, or eel sale requirements.

 A commercial fisherman who sells shad, herring, or eels must sell to either a licensed wholesale seafood dealer or a licensed bait dealer or must be licensed as a wholesale seafood dealer or bait dealer.  HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 200, Section 5, eff May 28, 2010.  Code Commissioner's Note  At the direction of the Code Commissioner, this section was renumbered from 50-5-1557 to accommodate the new section added by 2010 Act No. 193, Section 1.
SC Code § 50-5-1560 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1560. Penalty for offense for which no penalty prescribed; seizure and disposal of equipment.

 (A) A person who violates a provision of this article must be punished as directed by the individual sections. If no penalty is prescribed, the person 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) In addition, the department must seize any boat, boat trailer, engine, net, rigging, related equipment, and catch of a person charged with a violation pertaining to setting nets in proximity to navigation jetties. Upon conviction, seized items are forfeited to the State and become contraband and must be disposed of as provided in this chapter.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 8; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 39.
SC Code § 50-5-1700 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1700. Taking of saltwater game fish; importation by wholesale or retail seafood dealer of red drum or spotted seatrout.

 (A) It is unlawful to sell, purchase, trade, or barter or attempt to sell, purchase, trade, or barter saltwater gamefish in this State regardless of where taken except as provided in this chapter.  (B) It is unlawful to take or attempt to take saltwater gamefish in the waters of this State, except by:  (1) hand-held hook and line which includes rod and reel and pole; or  (2) gigging during legal periods.  Any saltwater gamefish taken by any other means must be returned immediately to the water.  (C) It is unlawful for a person to have in possession a saltwater gamefish while fishing or transporting a seine or a gill net or other commercial fishing equipment. A saltwater gamefish caught in the net or commercial fishing equipment must be returned to the water immediately.  (D) A wholesale or retail seafood dealer or other business may import cobia, red drum, or spotted seatrout from another state or country where the taking and sale of the fish is lawful. A copy of the bill of sale, bill of lading, or other proof of origin for each lot or shipment of the fish must accompany any fish resold and must be in the possession of the person or business offering imported cobia, red drum, or spotted seatrout for sale until it is sold to the ultimate consumer and must be retained by any seller for a period of one year.  (E) It is unlawful to sell, purchase, trade, or barter or attempt to sell, purchase, trade, or barter cobia taken from state waters.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 9; 2012 Act No. 249, Section 2, eff June 18, 2012.  Effect of Amendment  The 2012 amendment inserted "cobia," throughout subsection (D) and made other, nonsubstantive, changes; and, inserted subsection (E).
SC Code § 50-5-1713 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1713. Cobia limits established.

 (A) The following limits to cobia (Rachycentron canadum) are:  (1) one per person per day and no more than three per boat per day taken or possessed recreationally within the Southern Cobia Management Zone from June first to April thirtieth subject to a minimum size requirement of thirty-six inches in fork length. It is unlawful to take or possess cobia in the Southern Cobia Management Zone from May first to May thirty-first;  (2) one per person per day and no more than six per boat per day taken or possessed recreationally in the waters of this State outside of the Southern Cobia Management Zone subject to a minimum size requirement of thirty-six inches in fork length;  (3) two per licensed commercial fisherman per day and no more than six per boat per day taken or possessed commercially subject to a minimum size requirement of thirty-three inches in fork length.  (B) It is unlawful to sell cobia taken from the waters of this State. All cobia taken commercially from waters outside of this State must be sold to a licensed wholesale dealer who also is a federally permitted dealer.  (C) It is unlawful to take or possess cobia when federal regulations provide for the closure of the recreational or commercial cobia fishery in the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean.  HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 15 (H.3684), Section 1, eff April 12, 2021.
SC Code § 50-5-1715 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1715. Penalties.

 A person who violates this article 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 and must pay restitution to the department. Each fish taken, possessed, sold, offered for sale, purchased, or attempted to be sold, purchased, brought to the dock, or landed in violation of this article is a separate offense.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 9; 2002 Act No. 342, Section 52.
SC Code § 50-5-1900 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 50 - Fish, Game and Watercraft|Chapter 5 - Marine Resources Act|Section 50-5-1900. Article title.

 This article may be cited as the "South Carolina Recreational Fisheries Conservation and Management Act".  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, Section 10.