House Bill 1099

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON MARINE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND REGULATE A FISH LENGTH VERIFICATION PROGRAM APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN FISH WITH MINIMUM LENGTH REQUIREMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The Commission on Marine Resources shall develop, implement and regulate a fish length verification program applicable to certain fish that must meet minimum length requirements before the fishermen may possess the fish. The purpose of this program is to record the length of the fish before it is cleaned so that enforcement officers of the Department of Marine Resources are able to determine compliance with regulations of the department on minimum length requirements for fish.

(2) The program shall be simple to use by all fishermen and may include, but is not limited to, such means as electronic, digital or manual methods as will promote ease of use.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.