Bill Text: MS HB1156 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Redfish; allow boats using a purse seine to have on board a certain percentage of total catch.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-02-23 - Died In Committee [HB1156 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-HB1156-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Marine Resources
By: Representative Anderson
House Bill 1156
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW ANY BOAT OR VESSEL USING A PURSE SEINE TO HAVE ON BOARD A QUANTITY OF REDFISH THAT WEIGHS ONE PERCENT OR LESS OF THE TOTAL CATCH ON BOARD; TO REQUIRE ANY BOAT OR VESSEL USING A PURSE SEINE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH A LARGE FISH EXCLUDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-15-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-15-71. (1) It is
unlawful for any boat or vessel carrying or using a purse seine to have on
board such boat or vessel any quantity of redfish * * * greater than one percent (1%) by weight of the total
catch on board the boat or vessel. Any boat or vessel using a purse seine
shall be equipped with a large fish excluder or similar equipment designed to
lessen the accidental taking of redfish.
(2) It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to catch, take or land redfish below minimum legal size as established by regulations promulgated by the commission and in accordance with the Red Drum Fishery Management Plan. The department shall develop a redfish management plan and the commission shall promulgate regulations to implement the plan after conducting a public hearing relating to the plan and regulations. Beginning on July 1, 1998, and every four (4) years thereafter, the commission shall review the plan and regulations promulgated under the plan, and upon a determination that revisions are appropriate, the commission shall amend the plan or regulations, or both, in a manner to effectuate the desired changes.
(3) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each redfish possessed in violation of this section. All nets used in violating this section are hereby declared contraband and shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture. If the person in possession of or using the nets in the violation is not the owner or licensee of the nets, the department shall notify the owner or licensee of the nets. The nets shall be subject to forfeiture unless the nets were stolen and prosecution for the theft is initiated. It shall be the duty of the court to order the forfeiture of any nets used in violating the provisions of this section. The fine imposed upon a person convicted under this section shall not be suspended or reduced. The master and owner of any vessel upon which redfish is possessed in violation of this section shall be jointly and severally liable for the penalty imposed herein.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the term "redfish" means red drum or sciaenops ocellatus.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.
