Title 27

(a) Each boat, propulsion unit, net, door, boom, winch, cable, electronic device, or accessory equipment used in violation of Code Section 27-4-133 or 27-4-171 is declared to be contraband and forfeited to the state in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Tit…

(a)(1) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘fishing day’’ means any day in any period during which the waters of this state are open to commercial shrimping pursuant to Code Section 27-4-133 and any administrative order of the commissioner. (2) Any person on board any commerc…

(a) Any enforcement officer or other law enforcement officer who discovers an illegal cast net being used on the waters of this state shall confiscate the net, which shall be forfeited. FISH (b) Any person convicted of using an illegal cast net to fish for shrimp from the waters …

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess in this state any crab, other than a mature adult female crab, measuring less than five inches from spike to spike across the back; provided, however, that any person may take or possess peelers measuring at least three i…

(a) For purposes of crabbing, that portion of the St. Marys River and the Satilla River System (including the Satilla River and White Oak Creek) which is seaward of the points at which the Seaboard Coastline Railroad crosses such streams and that portion of the Altamaha River Sys…

(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to fish for shrimp for live bait to be sold, to engage in the sale of shrimp for live bait, or to engage in the sale of shrimp for dead bait unless the person has a bait dealer license and possesses a valid personal commercial fishing li…

(a)(1) It shall be unlawful to take or possess shellfish in commercial quantities or for commercial purposes without first having obtained a master collecting permit or without proof of purchase that such shellfish were purchased from a certified shellfish dealer. Master collecti…

(a) Unless authorized by the department, it shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess for commercial purposes any shellfish taken from the salt waters of this state except by hand or hand-held implement. The department may authorize the use of other equipment for taking…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘approved growing area’’ means that area or areas approved by the department for shellfish harvesting and ‘‘unapproved growing area’’ means all other areas. (b) It shall be unlawful to take or possess shellfish from unapproved growing a…

(a)(1) It shall be unlawful to take any oysters for noncommercial purposes when the shells of the oysters measure less than three inches from hinge to mouth, except that oysters less than three inches from hinge to mouth may be removed if attached to an oyster of that minimum siz…

(a) It shall be unlawful to take shellfish from any of the salt waters of this state except at such times and places as the commissioner may establish. The commissioner is authorized to open or close for the purpose of taking shellfish any or a portion of the salt waters of this …

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) ‘‘Culch’’ includes, but is not limited to, oyster shells, clam shells, and other shellfish shells when those shells originated from Georgia salt waters; oak brush, cement-coated shingles, nongalvanized wire fencing, small gravel, an…

(a) The department and the Department of Agriculture shall conduct a shellfish program sufficient to be certified by the United States Food and Drug Administration for interstate shipment of shellfish produced in this state. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person handling shellf…

(a) Any person desiring to lease any state shellfish beds for the exclusive rights to harvest those shellfish pursuant to this Code section shall make an application in writing to the department. The application shall include the name and legal residence of the applicant, a Natio…

(a) The distribution, sale, or possession with intent to distribute or sell any shellfish shall be prima-facie evidence that the shellfish were intended for use as food unless prior written approval from the department authorizing such possession of shellfish is presented. (b) Co…

It shall be unlawful to knowingly produce, manufacture, or possess any forged or false documents, records, or permits provided for in this article. (Code 1981, § 27-4-200, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 693, § 6.)

Except as otherwise provided in this article, any person who violates any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. (Code 1981, § 27-4-201, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 693, § 6.) PART 5 COMMERCIAL SHRIMP C…

It shall be unlawful for any person to fish for shrimp with a cast net from the waters of the state for commercial sale for food purposes or to sell for food purposes any shrimp he or she has taken with a cast net from the waters of the state unless he or she is in possession of …

(a) The department may issue no more than 200 commercial food shrimp cast netting licenses as provided in this Code section. Such licenses shall be issued only to individuals and shall not be transferable. (b) If the number of licenses issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this Co…

The Governor of this state is authorized and directed to execute a compact on behalf of the State of Georgia with any one or more of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, S…

(a) Pursuant to Article III of the compact, there shall be three members (hereinafter called commissioners) of the Atlantic States FISH Marine Fisheries Commission (hereinafter called commission) from the State of Georgia. The first commissioner from the State of Georgia shall be…

There is granted to the commission and the commissioners thereof all the powers provided for in the compact and all the powers necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the compact in every particular. All officers of the State of Georgia are authorized and directed to do al…

Any powers granted to the commission shall be regarded as in aid of and supplemental to and in no case a limitation upon any of the powers vested in the commission by other laws of the State of Georgia or by the laws of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connectic…

The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements and shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia on or before December 10 of each year, setting forth in detail the transactions conducted by it during the 12 months pre…

The state auditor is authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of the commission, including its receipts, disbursements, and such other items referring to its financial standing as the state auditor may deem proper, and to report the results of …

The sum of $200.00 per annum, or so much as may be necessary, is appropriated, out of any moneys in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the expenses of the commission created by the compact authorized by this part. (Ga. L. 1943, p. 117, § 6; Ga. L. 1945, p. 193, § …

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘adjoining state’’ means any of the following states: Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. (b) The department is authorized to make and enter into agreements, from time to time, with the proper authorities of…

This article may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Aquaculture Development Act.’’ (Code 1981, § 27-4-251, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507, § 8.)

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Aquaculture’’ means the extensive or intensive farming of aquatic animals and plants. (2) ‘‘Commission’’ means the Aquaculture Development Commission created by Code Section 27-4-253. (Code 1981, § 27-4-252, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507…

(a) There is created the Aquaculture Development Commission. The commission shall be composed of 14 members as follows: (1) The president of the Georgia Aquaculture Association or his representative, who shall serve as chairman of the commission; (2) The president of the Georgia …

(a) The commission shall make a thorough study of aquaculture and the potential for development and enhancement of aquaculture in the state. It shall be the duty of the commission to develop, distribute, and, from time to time, amend an aquaculture development plan for the State …

Any person engaged in the sale of domestic fish, except grocery stores, shall apply to the department for an aquaculture registration. The domestic fish of a registered aquaculture producer shall be privately owned subject to regulation by the Department of Natural Resources; pro…

The Department of Natural Resources shall register sellers of domestic fish under the applicable provisions of this article. Such registration shall expire on April 1 following the second anniversary of registration; provided, however, that such registration shall expire 30 days …

(a) All applications to the department for registration as a seller of domestic fish shall: (1) Designate an address in this state where the applicant can be personally served with legal process; (2) Contain an appointment of an agent in this state for acceptance of service of le…

The filing of an application with the department for registration as a seller of domestic fish shall constitute an admission by the applicant that the applicant is doing business in this state. (Code 1981, § 27-4-258, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507, § 8.)

(a) The Commissioner may deny registration to: (1) Any applicant with a criminal record; (2) Any applicant who is found by the Commissioner to have violated any law administered by the department or any regulation or quarantine of the department; or (3) A corporation, when any of…

All registration certificates issued by the department shall be evidence of a registration. The department shall maintain a current list of all persons registered under this article. (Code 1981, § 27-4-261, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507, § 8.)

The board shall make and publish in print or electronically such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this article. (Code 1981, § 27-4-262, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1507, § 8; Ga. L. 2010, p. 838, § 10/SB 388.)

(a) Any inspector or other person authorized to ascertain compliance with any rule or regulation of the department pertaining to the production or sale of domestic fish may enter during normal business hours and inspect the premises of a registered seller or producer of domestic …

The General Assembly recognizes that persons who participate in the sport of fishing may incur injuries as a result of the risks involved in such activity. The General Assembly also finds that the state and its citizens derive numerous economic and personal benefits from such act…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Fishing location’’ means a body of water, whether naturally occurring or manmade, containing fish and for the privilege of fishing there a fee is charged. (2) ‘‘Participant’’ means any person who enters the fishing location, singly or with…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the owner or operator of any fishing location, or any other person, corporation, group, partnership, or other entity, shall not be liable for an injury to or the death of a participant resulting from the inherent risk…

(a) Every owner and operator of a fishing location shall post and maintain signs which contain the warning notice specified in subsection (b) of this Code section. Such signs shall be placed in a clearly visible location on or near the water and at the location where the fee is p…

Use of crab traps; identification of boats or vessels; closure of salt waters authorized. PART 3 TAKING SHRIMP FOR BAIT 27-4-170. 27-4-171. 27-4-172. 183 Sport bait shrimping [Repealed]. Bait shrimping. Protections for horseshoe Sec. crabs; catch limits; exceptions [Repealed]. PA…

Establishment of commission; members; terms of office; removal. Powers and duties of commission and state officers. Powers granted to commission regarded as supplemental. Commission to keep accurate accounts; reports to Governor and General Assembly; recommendations for legislati…

Designation of certain waters as trout waters; establishment of seasons and methods of fishing. Trout waters without seasons [Repealed]. Trout waters with seasons [Repealed]. Article 3 Commercial Fishing and Fish Dealing Generally PART 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS