A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 50-5-365, RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE SALE OR TRANSPORTATION OF LIVE OR FRESH FISH OR SALTWATER FISHERY PRODUCTS, AND PENALTIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO BUY, RECEIVE, HANDLE, PACK, PROCESS, SHIP, CONSIGN, LAND, POSSESS, SELL, BARTER, OR TRADE RED SNAPPER FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
H. 5745 amends South Carolina law governing the sale and transportation of live or fresh fish and saltwater fishery products to make it unlawful, for commercial purposes, to buy, receive, handle, pack, process, ship, consign, land, possess, sell, barter, or trade red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) within the state. The bill also provides that any red snapper possessed or landed in violation of the new prohibition is contraband and must be disposed of under existing law.
In practical terms, the bill would add red snapper to the list of fish subject to a commercial prohibition in South Carolina and would create an enforcement mechanism through contraband treatment and disposal. The act would take effect upon approval by the Governor.
The bill would amend Section 50-5-365 of the South Carolina Code, expanding the state’s fisheries enforcement rules to specifically prohibit commercial dealings in red snapper. It would affect commercial fishers, seafood dealers, processors, transporters, and others involved in the handling or sale of saltwater fishery products, while also giving state authorities a basis to seize and dispose of illegally possessed or landed red snapper as contraband under existing disposal procedures.
There is little recorded debate or voting history available for this bill, as it was only introduced and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to reflect a regulatory and conservation-oriented approach to fisheries management, with no documented opposition or support in the provided materials.
No committee transcripts or votes are available, so no specific points of contention are recorded. Potential issues implied by the bill include whether a categorical commercial ban on red snapper is necessary, how it would affect commercial seafood businesses and fishers, and how enforcement would be carried out, but no legislator or stakeholder positions are provided in the record supplied.