Commercial Entrapment Net Closure Areas and Gear Size Restrictions

Commercial Entrapment Net Closure Areas and Gear Size Restrictions A. It is unlawful to catch, take, or carry away any saltwater fish by or with any purse seines, seines, haul seines, fish traps, or any other like contrivances, in the territorial waters of the State of Mississippi within twelve hundred feet (1200) of any public pier or any pier owned and operated by hotels or motels for the use of their patrons and guests for swimming and fishing or any harbor or within twelve hundred (1200) feet of the shoreline of Deer Island. MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-15-1, 49-15-3, 49-15-5, 49-15-15, 49-15-30, 49-15-63, 49-15-78, 49-15- 79, 49-15-83, 49-15-94, 49-15-95, 49-15-100, 49-15-100.1, 49-15-100.3, 49-15-303, 49-15-304, 49-15-305 and 49-15-307. B. It is unlawful to catch, take or carry away any saltwater fish by or with any purse seines, seines, haul seines, fish traps, and other like contrivances in the following areas of the State of Mississippi: 1. Within any river, bayou, creek, canal, stream, tributary, lake, bay, or inlet, or other water source entering into areas defined as salt waters under the jurisdiction of the MCMR, except Pt. aux Chenes Bay, Middle Bay, Jose Bay, L'Isle Chaude, Heron Bay, Pascagoula Bay, south of a line beginning at a point on the shoreline at the southern terminus of range lines R7W and R6W near Camp Lamotte; thence southeasterly along the most direct line to the southernmost point of Twin Islands; thence easterly along the most direct line to the southern point of Rabbit Island; thence easterly along the most direct line to the beacon "Occ R 4 sec 100 ft" on the eastern side of Litton Shipbuilding; thence southeasterly following the shoreline to the southeasternmost point of Litton Shipbuilding; thence easterly along the most direct line to the southernmost point of land adjoining the entrance to Yazoo Lake) and South Rigolets and Biloxi Bay south of a line drawn between Marsh Point and Grand Bayou. These restrictions in subsection 101.01 shall not apply to mullet fishing in Pascagoula Bay south of the CSX Railroad bridge. 2. Within fifteen hundred (1500) feet from the shoreline between the U.S. Highway 90 bridge and the north shore of Bayou Caddy in Hancock County. 3. Within an area that would block the mouth of any river, bayou, creek, canal, stream, tributary, lake, bay, inlet, channel, or other water source entering into areas defined as salt waters under the jurisdiction of the MDMR. Areas defined as salt waters under the jurisdiction of the MDMR are specified by Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Public Notice Number 2276 in accordance with § 49-15-23 of the Mississippi Code Ann. of 1972, as amended. 4. Within an area formed by a line running one (1) mile from the shoreline of Cat, Ship, Horn, Petit Bois, and Round Island, or from the shoals of Telegraph Keys and Telegraph Reef (Merrill Coquille)., during the period from May 15 to September 15 of each year. 5. Within three hundred (300) feet of any private piers which extend seventy-five (75) feet or more from the shoreline 6. All aforementioned piers must be in usable condition with boards spaced in such a way that persons can walk the entire distance of the pier. 7. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation other than licensed menhaden vessels engaged in menhaden fishing, to use or have in possession purse seine(s) in excess of fifteen hundred (1500) feet in length. Said nets must be of a mesh size of one- half (½) inch square, one (1) inch stretch or larger. 8. It is unlawful to leave a purse seine, seine, haul seine, or any other net like contrivance governed by the restrictions set forth in this Part unattended in the waters of this state. It shall further be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to use or have in their possession a seine, haul seine, or like contrivance on the waters of this state without a visible buoy attached everyone hundred (100) feet clearly marked with the license number or owner's full name thereon. MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 49-15-1, 49-15-3, 49-15-5, 49-15-15, 49-15-30, 49-15-63, 49-15-78, 49-15- 79, 49-15-83, 49-15-94, 49-15-95, 49-15-100, 49-15-100.1, 49-15-100.3, 49-15-303, 49-15-304, 49-15-305 and 49-15-307. CHAPTER 16 ENTANGLEMENT NET RESTRICTIONS