HB1699.html

House Bill 1699
By: Representatives West of the 101^st, Smith of the 12^th, Greene of the 158^th and Hanner of the 159^th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 27-4-133 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to lawful nets, opening and closing waters, and identification on boats taking shrimp, so as to provide that a certain limitation shall not apply to vessels having a draft of seven feet or less; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

Code Section 27-4-133 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to lawful nets, opening and closing waters, and identification on boats taking shrimp, is amended by striking in its entirety paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"(1) It shall be unlawful to trawl for shrimp for human consumption with any trawl or trawls having a total foot-rope length greater than 220 feet, not including the foot-rope length of a single trawl not greater than 16 feet when used as a try net. Foot-rope shall be measured from brail line to brail line, first tie to last tie on the bottom line. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to vessels having a maximum draft of seven feet or less when fully loaded. The department is authorized to exempt trawls used by persons holding a valid scientific collection permit granted by the department."

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.