§ 20-7-10 - Minimum size of lobsters taken – Egg-bearing females.
SECTION 20-7-10
§ 20-7-10 Minimum size of lobsters taken– Egg-bearing females. – (a) Unless otherwise specified by regulations adopted by the marine fisheriescouncil, no person shall catch or take from any of the waters within thejurisdiction of this state or have in his or her possession within this stateany lobster or parts of lobsters, cooked or uncooked, which is less than threeand three sixteenths inches (3 3/16") measured from the rear of the eyesocket along a line parallel to the center line of the body shell to the rearend of the carapace.
(2) The minimum size of three and three sixteenths inches (33/16") shall be increased as follows:
(i) On January 1, 1988, 1/32" from 3 3/16" to 3 7/32";
(ii) On January 1, 1989, 1/32" from 3 7/32" to3 1/4";
(iii) On January 1, 1991, 1/32" from 3 1/4" to3 9/32";
(iv) On January 1, 1992, 1/32" from 3 9/32" to3 5/16".
(b) No person shall have in his or her possession within thisstate any female lobster bearing eggs or from which the eggs have been brushedor removed.
(c) In addition to any penalties specified in other sectionsof this chapter, every person violating any of the provisions of this sectionshall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundreddollars ($500) for each lobster in violation of this regulation or beimprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both. Any person licensed underthis chapter catching and taking any lobster as described in subsection (a) or(b) and immediately returning the lobster alive to the water from which it wastaken shall not be subject to these fines or penalties. The possession of anylobster as described in subsection (a) or (b), cooked or uncooked, shall beprima facie evidence that the lobster was caught and taken in violation of thissection. Any person convicted a second time of a violation of this sectionshall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) and be deprived of the privilege offishing for lobsters within the state for three (3) years, after conviction,under a penalty of sixty (60) days' imprisonment or a fine of five hundreddollars ($500), or both, for each offense.