MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Conservation and Water Resources

By: Representative Ellington

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-84, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN FEMALE SPONGE CRABS, IF THE TAKING AND POSSESSION OF THOSE CRABS IS LAWFUL IN THE STATE OF ORIGIN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-15-84, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-15-84. (1) The commission shall coordinate with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in the development of an ordinance for the purpose of taking Callinectes sapidus (blue crab) or allied species. The ordinance shall include provisions for the establishment of size limits for individual or market use as well as establishing legal harvest size for the cultivating of peeler crabs and soft-shell crabs.

(2) The commission shall establish minimum specifications for crab traps and shall require buoys of adequate size which are identified as to the owner of the buoys and traps. Within the bays and bayous recreational crabbers may use no more than six (6) crab traps per household. The taking of crabs with drop nets is permitted without a license.

(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, it is unlawful to catch, hold or have in possession any female sponge crab or any female crab bearing visible eggs at any time within marine waters. It is not unlawful to catch those crabs unintentionally, if the crabs are immediately returned to the water.

(b) This section shall not apply to the importation of the female crabs during closed season from other states where the taking and possession of those crabs is lawful. Each ship or load of imported female sponge crabs shall have with it either an invoice from a licensed harvester in a state which legally allows their taking, or a certificate from that state's marine resources regulatory agency verifying that the crabs were taken legally.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.