South Carolina § 50-5-545 Commercial blue crab traps; escape vent requirements; peeler trap exemption.

South Carolina Statutes

§ 50-5-545 — Commercial blue crab traps; escape vent requirements; peeler trap exemption.

South Carolina § 50-5-545

Title 50FISH, GAME AND WATERCRAFT

Ch. 5MARINE RESOURCES ACT

This text of South Carolina § 50-5-545 (Commercial blue crab traps; escape vent requirements; peeler trap exemption.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

S.C. Code Ann. § 50-5-545 (2026).

Text

(A)Except as provided in this section, a trap used for taking blue crab for commercial purposes from June 1 through March 14, or for recreational purposes year round, must have at least two unobstructed, circular escape vents (rings) which must be two and three-eighths inches or greater in inside diameter and located on vertical surfaces. At least one vent (ring) must be in the upper chamber. All vents (rings) must be within two inches of the horizontal partition or the base of the trap.

(B)A trap used for taking blue crab constructed of a single chamber must have at least one two and three-eighths inch or larger inside diameter escape vent (ring) located on a vertical surface within two inches of the base of the trap. Peeler traps are exempt year round.

(C)A trap used for taking blue c

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(A) Except as provided in this section, a trap used for taking blue crab for commercial purposes from June 1 through March 14, or for recreational purposes year round, must have at least two unobstructed, circular escape vents (rings) which must be two and three-eighths inches or greater in inside diameter and located on vertical surfaces. At least one vent (ring) must be in the upper chamber. All vents (rings) must be within two inches of the horizontal partition or the base of the trap. (B) A trap used for taking blue crab constructed of a single chamber must have at least one two and three-eighths inch or larger inside diameter escape vent (ring) located on a vertical surface within two inches of the base of the trap. Peeler traps are exempt year round. (C) A trap used for taking blue crab, other than peeler traps, must be constructed of wire with a minimum mesh size of one and one-half inches, have throats or entrances located only on a vertical surface, and have a maximum dimension of twenty-four inches by twenty-four inches by twenty-four inches or a volume of eight cubic feet.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 245, SECTION 3; 2002 Act No. 342, SECTION 23; 2013 Act No. 7, SECTION 5, eff March 22, 2013; 2024 Act No. 212 (H.4386), SECTION 5, eff July 1, 2025. Editor's Note 2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 12, provides as follows: "SECTION 12. Upon approval of this act by the Governor, a moratorium on the issuance of new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab takes effect, at which time the department must not issue any new commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab. This moratorium expires on June 15, 2025. Commercial equipment licenses to use traps for the taking of blue crab in effect for the 2023-2024 license year are extended and do not expire until June 30, 2025." Effect of Amendment The 2013 amendment, in subsection (A), substituted "a trap used for taking blue crab" for "a crab trap", and in subsection (B), substituted "A trap used for taking blue crab" for "Crab traps". 2024 Act No. 212, SECTION 5, in (A), in the first sentence, substituted "a trap used for taking blue crab for commercial purposes from June 1 through March 14, or for recreational purposes year round," for "from June 1 through March 14, a trap used for taking blue crab used for commercial purposes"; and added (C).