Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-2-4-.17 - Commercial Fishing Species Endorsements

(1) Purpose. The purpose of these Rules is to implement the authority of the Board of Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations to designate species of wildlife or species grouping of wildlife that require a commercial fishing species endorsement.

(2) Endorsements. In addition to a commercial fishing license and commercial fishing boat license required by Code Sections 27-4-110 and 27-2-8, any person engaged in commercial fishing shall obtain a separate commercial fishing species endorsement for each species or species grouping listed below:

(a) Bait Minnows (family Fundulidae). A bait minnow endorsement is required of employees of a licensed bait dealer that are engaged in the harvest of bait minnows, other than those exempted by Code Section 27-4-171, but is not required of the licensed bait dealer.

(b) Bait Shrimp (Penaeus spp.). A bait shrimp endorsement is required of employees of a licensed bait dealer that are engaged in the harvest of bait shrimp, other than those exempted by Code Section 27-4-171, but is not required of the licensed bait dealer.

(c) Cannonball Jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris). A cannonball jellyfish endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman employed on board a trawl vessel harvesting or landing cannonball jellyfish unless the fisherman is onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

(d) Catfish in Saltwater (families Ariidae and Ictaluridae). A catfish in saltwater endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing catfish in saltwater.

(e) Crab (Callinectes spp.) A crab endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman employed by a commercial crab harvester or by a soft-shell crab-dealer, or employed on board a trawl vessel harvesting or landing crab, but is not required of a licensed commercial crab harvester or a licensed soft-shell crab dealer licensed pursuant to Code Section 27-4-150. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a crab endorsement shall not be required of a fisherman onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

(f) Eel (Anguilla spp.) An eel endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing eel.

(g) Finfish. A finfish endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing finfish other than shad, catfish in saltwater or bait minnows. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a finfish endorsement shall not be required of a licensed commercial fisherman onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

(h) Food Shrimp (Penaeus spp.) A food shrimp endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman employed by a commercial shrimp castnet harvester or onboard a trawl vessel unless the fisherman is onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

(i) Horseshoe crab (Limulus Polyphemus). A horseshoe crab endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing horseshoe crabs unless the fisherman is onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

(j) Shad (Alosa spp.) A shad endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing shad.

(k) Shellfish (Crassostrea spp. and Mercenaria spp.). A shellfish endorsement is required of any employee of a master collecting permittee actively involved in the harvest or landing of shellfish and includes the master collecting permit holder.

(l) Whelk (family Busyconidae). A whelk endorsement is required of any licensed commercial fisherman harvesting or landing whelk unless the fisherman is onboard a vessel having a trawler crew license issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-2-4-.17

O.C.G.A Title 12, §§ 27-1-4, 27-2-23.

Original Rule entitled "Commercial Fishing Species Endorsements" adopted. F. Dec. 14, 2017; eff. Jan. 3, 2018.