Senate Bill 3067

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-15-84, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE PROHIBITION AGAINST POSSESSION FOR FEMALE SPONGE CRABS; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION ON MARINE RESOURCES TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS ON THE TAKING OF CERTAIN CRABS; 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 monitoring of blue crab populations and in the development of regulations for the purpose of taking Callinectes sapidus (blue crab) or allied species. The regulations shall include provisions for the establishment of size limits and condition (eggs present or molting stage) for individual or market use as well as establishing legal harvest size for the cultivating and capture of peeler crabs and soft-shell crabs.

(2) The commission shall establish specifications for crab traps and shall require buoys of adequate size which are identified as to the owner of the buoys and traps. 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.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.